MOT performance

Skoda Octavia MOT pass rate and common failures

Across 410,920 MOT tests of the Skoda Octavia in 2023–2024, 75.7% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Skoda Octavias failed 18% less often than comparable cars. The most common failure item was “coil spring: fractured or broken”, on 2.66% of tests.

410,920 MOT tests on 211,258 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto

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At a glance

Skoda Octavia MOT results at a glance
Figure	Value	Basis
First-time pass rate	75.7%	±0.1 pts (95%), n = 410,920
Failures vs similar cars	0.82×	same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Tests with a dangerous defect	7.3%	n = 410,920
Average age at test	8.7 years	n = 410,920
Median mileage at test	85,412 miles	n = 410,920
Vehicles tested	211,258	2023–2024

Where Skoda Octavias fail

The share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. Areas where the difference is large and clear link to their own page.

Skoda Octavia MOT failures by area
Area	Tests failed on it	vs similar cars
Lights, reflectors and electrical	8.6%	-27%
Suspension	8.3%	-11%
Tyres	6.4%	-9%
Brakes	5.6%	-24%
Noise, emissions and leaks	2.8%	-15%
Driver's view of the road	2.3%	-51%
Body, chassis and structure	2.2%	-38%
Seat belts and airbags	1.2%	+4%
Steering	0.7%	-67%
Road wheels	0.3%	-31%
Registration plates and VIN	0.3%	-26%
Speedometer and driving controls	0.0%	-73%

Skoda Octavia MOT pass rate by fuel: diesel vs petrol

Raw pass rates partly reflect how old each fuel's cars are; the adjusted column compares each with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel.

Skoda Octavia MOT results by fuel
Fuel	Tests	Average age	First-time pass	vs similar cars
Diesel	261,037	9.4 yrs	72.8%	-15%
Petrol	146,147	7.6 yrs	80.6%	-25%
Hybrid	3,732	2.3 yrs	89.2%	-13%

Skoda Octavia MOT pass rate by generation

Generations by first-registration date against 73 Auto's catalogue (cars registered within three months of a changeover left out).

Skoda Octavia MOT results by generation
Generation	Tests	Average age	First-time pass	vs similar cars
Mk3 (2013–2020)	247,378	6.5 yrs	82.1%	-27%
Mk4 (2020 on)	16,379	2.4 yrs	90.0%	-31%

Most common failure items

Most common Skoda Octavia MOT failure items
Item	Area	Share of tests
Coil spring: fractured or broken	Suspension	2.66%
Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	2.03%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick	Brakes	1.91%
Condition: has ply or cords exposed	Tyres	1.72%
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak	Suspension	1.52%
Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt	Suspension	1.40%
Position lamp: not working	Lights, reflectors and electrical	1.35%
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect	Lights, reflectors and electrical	1.34%
Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords	Tyres	1.32%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt	Body, chassis and structure	1.25%

Most common advisories

Advisories are items the tester expects to need attention soon; they don't fail the test.

Most common Skoda Octavia MOT advisories
Item	Area	Share of tests
Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	15.97%
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak	Suspension	12.38%
Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	Brakes	9.25%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick	Brakes	8.38%
Condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure	Tyres	7.90%

Pass rate by age

Skoda Octavia MOT pass rate by age at test
Age at test (years)	Tests	First-time pass rate	Failures vs similar cars
3-4	62,661	87.3%	-24%
5-6	70,150	84.4%	-26%
7-8	76,202	80.4%	-29%
9-10	56,782	74.7%	-25%
11-12	42,466	65.8%	-12%
13-15	45,457	60.9%	-9%
16+	39,994	55.9%	-2%

Pass rate by registration year

Skoda Octavia MOT pass rate by registration year
Registered	Tests	First-time pass rate	Failures vs similar cars
2021	10,156	90.0%	0.70×
2020	24,131	88.6%	0.75×
2019	39,871	86.4%	0.79×
2018	33,290	86.2%	0.71×
2017	36,943	83.9%	0.72×
2016	41,170	81.6%	0.72×
2015	38,487	79.5%	0.71×
2014	33,996	77.2%	0.71×
2013	22,124	72.8%	0.78×
2012	22,229	66.5%	0.90×
2011	22,874	64.8%	0.88×
2010	19,019	62.7%	0.89×
2009	13,846	61.3%	0.91×
2008	11,698	57.7%	0.96×
2007	12,440	57.0%	0.96×
2006	10,586	54.9%	0.99×
2005	6,414	54.7%	1.00×
2004	4,096	56.9%	0.94×
2003	3,146	56.6%	0.95×
2002	2,147	58.8%	0.92×
2001	1,324	56.4%	1.00×
2000	449	53.9%	1.11×

Years with fewer tests are shown for completeness; only years with enough tests have their own page.

Compared with similar models

What a Skoda Octavia costs to own

73 Auto's worked ownership-cost examples for this model:

Skoda Octavia 2017

Check a specific Skoda Octavia

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UK number plate or 17-character VIN

About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.