Skoda Roomster
1.4L three-cylinder unit injector engine, 51 kW (70 hp). Same construction as BNM but lower power output. Same PD-typical weak points. Below 1,500 rpm sluggish; barely suitable for short trips.
80 hp — barely better
59 kW TDI in the Roomster: marginally better than the BNM, but still underpowered.
Engine Weaknesses 3
Like all VAG PD-TDI engines, the BWB suffers from camshaft wear due to the mechanical load of the unit injector assemblies. Parts costs for camshaft, bearings and tappets are around €1,170.
Symptoms: Clattering on cold start, increasing valvetrain noise. Power loss and rough idle with advanced wear.
Total engine failure on timing belt snap — the BWB is an interference engine. Strictly follow the manufacturer's service interval (120,000–150,000 km depending on build year).
Symptoms: Sudden stall while driving, loud bang. Engine will not restart.
The camshaft position sensor on the BWB fails sporadically and causes hot-restart issues. Particularly after 30–60 minutes of standstill with a warm engine, restart fails.
Symptoms: Engine starts fine when cold, hot restart after brief standstill fails. Multiple start attempts needed.
Vehicle Weaknesses 8
The Roomster is prone to rust-through on the tailgate (particularly top left beside the handle recess), the rear wheel arches and beneath the door sill strips. Rust works from the inside out. Mainly affects model years 2006–2010.
The rear wheel cylinders of the drum brakes become leaky from approximately 80,000 km. Brake fluid leaks and contaminates the brake shoes.
The front axle control arm bushings wear above-averagely quickly on the Roomster. Early failures possible from 50,000 km. Cause: original design with only two support ribs instead of four.
The electric window regulator control modules in the Roomster fail sporadically or permanently, often due to moisture ingress through the seals. Faulty switches and corroded connectors are further causes.
The roof antenna seal deteriorates and allows water to enter, collecting in the headlining or interior. Damp headlining and a musty smell are the typical result.
The central locking of the Roomster sporadically fails to respond to the remote signal or does not fully unlock the doors. The cause is often corroded door locks, broken wires at the door hinge or a faulty body control module.
The steering column develops a creaking noise when steering, particularly in the cold. Dry universal joints in the steering column are a common cause.
The blower resistor burns out and the fan only works on the highest setting. Overheating caused by a dirty pollen filter accelerates failure.
Reports & Tests
The Roomster shows noticeably poor MOT results compared to other Group vehicles. Lighting, oil leaks and suspension cause significant problems with increasing age.
