Skoda Octavia common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Skoda Octavia at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 207,101 UK MOT tests of the Skoda Octavia in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is shock absorbers (light misting of oil): recorded on 13% of tests of 2017–2019 cars at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km), 12× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect) (5×); pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement) (3.8×); suspension arm (corroded but not seriously weakened) (2.9×). The most common reasons a Skoda Octavia fails its MOT are coil spring (fractured or broken); headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect); brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Skoda Octavia
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Skoda Octavia than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil | Advisory | 2017–2019 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 13% | 1.1% | 12× | 16,659 |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | MOT fail | 2016–2018 | 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 7% | 1.4% | 5× | 3,358 |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | Advisory | 2019–2021 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 3% | 0.8% | 3.8× | 6,824 |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened | Advisory | 2009–2011 | 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 6% | 2.1% | 2.9× | 3,376 |
| Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | Advisory | 2020–2022 | 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 9.5% | 3.5% | 2.7× | 3,433 |
| Service brake performance: binding but not excessively | Advisory | 2013–2015 | 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 3.3% | 1.2% | 2.8× | 2,826 |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened | Advisory | 2009–2011 | 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 8.5% | 3.4% | 2.5× | 5,421 |
| Individual direction indicators: slightly discoloured | Advisory | 2006–2008 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 5.7% | 1.9% | 3× | 1,115 |
Skoda Octavia by mileage (2018–2020 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 6,414 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (11%) | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (11%, 1.7×) |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 18,862 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (11%) | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil (11%, 9.9×) |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 11,806 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil (17%) | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil (17%, 9.2×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 5,454 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil (18%) | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil (18%, 7.9×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 2,868 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil (17%) | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil (17%, 6.3×) |
| 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 1,586 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil (17%) | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil (17%, 5.6×) |
| 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 951 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil (15%) | Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect (5.5%, 5×) |
| 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 532 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (12%) | Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect (5.6%, 4.3×) |
| 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 604 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (16%) | Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect (6.5%, 5.4×) |
Skoda Octavia by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 265 | Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (2.2×) |
| 2001 | 735 | Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (2.9×) |
| 2002 | 1,214 | Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (2.1×) |
| 2003 | 1,763 | Coil spring: fractured or broken at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (2.4×) |
| 2004 | 2,299 | Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (2.9×) |
| 2005 | 3,538 | Individual direction indicators: slightly discoloured at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (2.9×) |
| 2006 | 5,804 | Individual direction indicators: slightly discoloured at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (3.1×) |
| 2007 | 6,733 | Individual direction indicators: slightly discoloured at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (3.1×) |
| 2008 | 6,241 | Individual direction indicators: slightly discoloured at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (2.4×) |
| 2009 | 7,265 | Individual direction indicators: slightly discoloured at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (2.6×) |
| 2010 | 9,974 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (3.1×) |
| 2011 | 11,821 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (2.9×) |
| 2012 | 11,516 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (4.5×) |
| 2013 | 11,322 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (6.1×) |
| 2014 | 17,219 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (7.3×) |
| 2015 | 19,563 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (6.3×) |
| 2016 | 20,853 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (8.6×) |
| 2017 | 18,558 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (11×) |
| 2018 | 16,740 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (12×) |
| 2019 | 20,190 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (9.9×) |
| 2020 | 12,147 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (8.9×) |
| 2021 | 888 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (7.9×) |
| 2022 | 239 | Nothing stands out |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Skoda Octavia?
In 207,101 UK MOT tests of the Skoda Octavia in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is shock absorbers (light misting of oil): recorded on 13% of tests of 2017–2019 cars at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km), 12× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect) (5×); pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement) (3.8×); suspension arm (corroded but not seriously weakened) (2.9×). The most common reasons a Skoda Octavia fails its MOT are coil spring (fractured or broken); headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect); brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick).
Why do Skoda Octavias fail the MOT?
Across 207,101 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Skoda Octavia were coil spring (fractured or broken) (5.6% of tests); headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect) (4.6% of tests); brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) (2.8% of tests).
At what mileage do Skoda Octavia problems start?
The clearest Skoda Octavia-specific issue, shock absorbers (light misting of oil), peaks against other cars at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) on 2017–2019 cars (13% of tests vs 1.1% for all cars that age).
Where does this Skoda Octavia data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 207,101 tests of the Skoda Octavia. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.