If you are considering buying a used Skoda Yeti, there are several major reliability issues worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 2 known faults for this model, 1 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Generation 1 of 12 known faults · 37 owner reports · 8 good notes
Skoda Yeti B7 (2010 to 2014) problems
Engine/EmissionsMedium severity📝 Editorial
EGR valve failure and DPF blockage following the 'Dieselgate' emissions software fix
Rough guide
£400-900
Typical symptoms
engine management light
flashing glow plug light
limp mode
frequent DPF regenerations
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.0 TDI (EA189)
Typical mileage:
60000-100000 miles
1 more owner report backs this up
November 2019A 2010-2015 Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDI (EA189) experienced DPF, injector, and EGR problems at 117,000 miles after the NOx emissions fix.
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Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Timing chain stretch and tensioner failure leading to engine rattle, skipped timing, and valve damage
Rough guide
£700-1200
Typical symptoms
loud metallic rattle on cold start for 2-3 seconds
engine management light
rough running
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.2 TSI (EA111)
Typical mileage:
40000-80000 miles
2 more owner reports back this up
December 2017The timing chain on a 2011 Yeti 1.2 TSI failed at 34,000 miles, destroying the engine; Skoda supplied a new engine for a 500 fitting charge.
December 2017A new timing chain fitted to a Yeti 1.2 TSI failed because the replacement chain was wider than the available sprockets.
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What owners report on the B7
37 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Bodywork · February 2020A 2016 Skoda Yeti 1.4 TSI experienced persistent panoramic sunroof leaks, with various attempted repairs failing to resolve the issue.
Gearbox and clutch · January 2020A 2016 Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI with a DQ200 7-speed DSG gearbox lurched when changing from first to second gear in slow traffic.
Gearbox and clutch · January 2020The clutch pedal on a 2014 Skoda Yeti 4x4 2.0 TDI was reported to be sticking at 57,000 miles.
Engine · December 2019A 2011 Skoda Yeti 1.8 TSI engine began consuming one litre of oil every 300 miles from 70,000 miles.
Engine · October 2019The engine light illuminated on a 2011 Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDI SE; diagnostics indicated a throttle sensor issue that recurred after resetting.
Gearbox and clutch · August 2019A 2017 Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI with a DQ200 7-speed DSG appeared to slip gears without clear reason.
Bodywork · August 2019A September 2017 Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDI DSG had a leaking sunroof that allowed water into the rear passenger footwell.
Engine · August 2019A Skoda Yeti developed a stiff throttle pedal, which was subsequently resolved.
Engine · July 2019A 2014 Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI with a DQ200 7-speed DSG had an oil leak and a camshaft problem discovered at 26,000 miles.
Gearbox and clutch · July 2019A 2013 Skoda Yeti 1.8 TSI 4WD DSG with a DQ250 6-speed wet clutch gearbox developed a small leak from its mechatronics unit.
Bodywork · June 2019Rainwater was reported to be leaking into the passenger footwell of a 2013 Skoda Yeti.
Engine · March 2019The timing chain failed on a 2011 Skoda Yeti 1.8 TSI engine at 65,000 miles, leading to a £5,300 bill for a new engine.
Suspension and steering · February 2019A 2015 Skoda Yeti had an MoT advisory for light oil misting on both front shock absorbers at 44,000 miles.
Gearbox and clutch · February 2019Bearings failed in the manual transmission of a 2014 Skoda Yeti at 29,000 miles, with an exchange transmission quoted at £4,025.
Gearbox and clutch · December 2018A 2015 Skoda Yeti with 50,000 miles was reluctant to change gear, feeling as though it was grinding and moaning.
Gearbox and clutch · November 2018A Skoda Yeti owner reported experiencing problems with the DQ200 7-speed dry clutch DSG gearbox for eight years.
Gearbox and clutch · November 2018A 2011 Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI with a DQ200 7-speed DSG failed at 34,000 miles, diagnosed with clutch pack and mechatronic faults.
Bodywork · November 2018A 2014 Skoda Yeti had a leaking factory-fitted panoramic sunroof, with water entering the driver's and rear passenger footwells.
Cooling · September 2018A Skoda Yeti 1.6 TDI required two new cylinder heads and three engine rebuilds due to coolant entering the combustion chambers.
Gearbox and clutch · September 2018A 2015 Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI developed a rumble from the gearbox at 56,200 miles, with a repair quoted at £1,200 to £1,400.
Gearbox and clutch · August 2018A 2017 Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI with a DQ200 7-speed DSG intermittently made a noise like a poorly executed manual gearchange.
Engine · July 2018A 2009 Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDI ran roughly, smelled of exhaust fumes, and had an EGR cooler leak after the emissions recall fix.
Engine · July 2018A Skoda Yeti 1.6 TDI experienced repeated injector failures after the NOx emissions update.
Bodywork · July 2018Corrosion repairs on a Skoda Yeti's bodywork failed, with rust reappearing after the initial fix.
Gearbox and clutch · July 2018A 2014 Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI Elegance manual needed a new gearbox due to a failed bearing, costing £3,600.
Gearbox and clutch · June 2018The clutch pedal on a Skoda Yeti sometimes failed to rise at 58,000 miles, attributed to a failing slave cylinder.
Engine · May 2018A Yeti 1.6 TDI required a new EGR valve and then new injectors after receiving the NOx Emissions Fix.
General · May 2018A used Skoda Yeti with 51,738 miles suffered broken suspension springs, cutting out, rust, a damaged crankshaft, and jumping out of 5th gear.
Engine · May 2018A Skoda Yeti diesel experienced repeated issues, including new temperature sensors and numerous regenerations, after the NOx emissions fix.
Interior · April 2018The heating system in a 2012 Skoda Yeti 1.6 TDI Greenline, owned since new, developed a fault at 69,000 miles.
Gearbox and clutch · February 2018A 2017 Skoda Yeti DSG accelerated when braking at a junction, with the gearbox changing down and applying too much power.
Suspension and steering · February 2018Both rear springs failed on a 2011 Skoda Yeti 4WD, despite rarely being driven off-road.
Engine · February 2018A Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI DSG developed a rattle from the engine when accelerating moderately hard at 7,000 miles.
Gearbox and clutch · December 2017A 2011 Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI DSG DQ200 experienced clutch pack failure at 18,000 miles, followed by mechatronics failure at 31,700 miles.
Gearbox and clutch · November 2017The 4th gear synchromesh on a 2012 Skoda Yeti 1.6 TDI Greenline failed at 41,387 miles, requiring a £1,950 repair.
Exhaust · November 2017A Skoda Yeti had its EGR cooler replaced after the NOx emissions fix, resulting in reduced fuel economy and torque.
Brakes · October 2017Front brake discs on a Skoda Yeti warped at 3,500 miles, were replaced, and the new discs warped again at 10,700 miles.
What owners like about the B7
8 notes
March 2013The Skoda Yeti was recognised as the best car for back pain sufferers by Sundial Clinics.
The Yeti features a robust and solid design with a distinctive grille and stylish headlamps, offering a high seating position and a light, un-bulky appearance.
The Yeti offers agile handling and a balanced ride, with turbocharged, economical engines making it dynamic and enjoyable to drive.
The Yeti is well-equipped for carrying loads, offering a flexible luggage compartment that expands to 1,760 litres with the rear seats removed.
Four-wheel-drive variants provide excellent off-road capability and traction, combined with low emissions and good fuel consumption.
The Yeti combines the strengths of a 4x4 with the practicality of a hatchback, offering a fresh attitude.
The flexible VarioFlex rear seat system allows easy expansion of the Yeti's carrying capacity to 1,760 litres.
The Yeti offers excellent on-road and off-road driveability thanks to its higher ground clearance and fourth-generation Haldex clutch system.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 6 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Skoda Yeti advert and we check it in seconds.
Skoda Yeti service intervals: cambelt, chain and gearbox oil
An overdue cambelt is the most expensive thing a seller can fail to mention on a used Yeti. These are the figures UK specialists work to.
Timing chainChain
1.2 TSI, EA111
No fixed replacement interval
The EA111 1.2 TSI chain is notorious for stretching and jumping teeth due to a weak tensioner design. Listen for a loud rattle on cold start. Failure destroys the engine. Many have been modified, but check history carefully.
Timing belt (cambelt)Belt
2.0 TDI, EA189
60,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first
Although VAG dropped the 5-year time limit in 2023, independent specialists strictly advise replacing the belt and water pump every 5 years or 60,000 miles to prevent failure.
Always confirm against the vehicle handbook. Intervals vary by engine, and several manufacturers revised theirs after failures in service.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: June 2026
Skoda Yeti buying questions
Is a used Skoda Yeti reliable?
The Skoda Yeti has 2 known faults in our database, 1 of them rated high severity. The most serious are engine (timing chain stretch and tensioner failure leading to engine rattle, skipped timing) and engine (EGR valve failure and DPF blockage following the 'Dieselgate' emissions software fix). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
Which Skoda Yeti years should I avoid?
No Skoda Yeti year is a write-off, but the B7 (2010 to 2014) carries the most serious faults: engine. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.
What should I check when viewing a used Skoda Yeti?
Ask the seller about the engine faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for loud metallic rattle on cold start for 2-3 seconds and engine management light. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against its known faults before you travel. Check a Skoda Yeti advert →
What is the real MPG of a Skoda Yeti?
Owners report 43.6 mpg on average across the Skoda Yeti engines with data, about 88% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 1,606 owner submissions. Skoda Yeti Real MPG by engine →
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Skoda Yeti owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.