Skoda Octavia: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Skoda Octavia passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 2.2 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 192,015 individual Skoda Octavia tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 78.9% first-time pass rate means roughly 21 in every 100 Skoda Octavias presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Skoda Octavia tested had covered 101,448 miles and was built around 2014.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Skoda Octavia sits 2.2 points above the national average, ranked 1,483 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. See how it stacks up against the Ford Fiesta.

Looking at a specific Skoda Octavia rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see the median recorded closing bid for a damaged Skoda Octavia: £450 at UK salvage auction, from 26 ended listings, not independently confirmed sales.

Most common MOT failures on a Skoda Octavia

1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.9% of tests (2.01x the national rate for this defect)
2. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.2% of tests (1.78x the national rate for this defect)
3. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.1% of tests (1.68x the national rate for this defect)
4. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.6% of tests (1.52x the national rate for this defect)
5. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.2% of tests (1.28x the national rate for this defect)
6. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 2.8% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this defect)
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.4% of tests
8. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.9% of tests
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.7% of tests
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 2.3% of tests

From 191,851 DVSA-tracked Skoda Octavia tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.95% of these flagged Skoda Octavia defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Skoda Octavia

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Skoda Octavia before it actually fails on it.

1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 17.7% of tests (4.54x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
2. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 4% of tests (2.02x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 2.5% of tests (1.86x the national rate for this advisory)
4. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 7.8% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.3% of tests (1.24x the national rate for this advisory)
6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 14.2% of tests (1.16x the national rate for this advisory)
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 27.7% of tests, also fails
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 14.9% of tests, also fails
9. A tyre seriously damaged, 14.7% of tests, also fails
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 10.6% of tests, also fails

From 191,851 DVSA-tracked Skoda Octavia tests, 2024.

Skoda Octavia pass rate by model year

From its 2001 to its 2020 model year, the Skoda Octavia's first-time pass rate has risen 26.5 points, from 63.1% to 89.6%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Skoda Octavia year:

• 2001 Skoda Octavia - 63.1% first-time pass, 586 tests
• 2002 Skoda Octavia - 66.8% first-time pass, 925 tests
• 2003 Skoda Octavia - 65.1% first-time pass, 1,378 tests
• 2004 Skoda Octavia - 66.4% first-time pass, 1,788 tests
• 2005 Skoda Octavia - 62.4% first-time pass, 2,873 tests
• 2006 Skoda Octavia - 62.3% first-time pass, 4,769 tests
• 2007 Skoda Octavia - 63% first-time pass, 5,694 tests
• 2008 Skoda Octavia - 63.3% first-time pass, 5,450 tests
• 2009 Skoda Octavia - 66.8% first-time pass, 6,570 tests
• 2010 Skoda Octavia - 68% first-time pass, 9,022 tests
• 2011 Skoda Octavia - 69.4% first-time pass, 11,036 tests
• 2012 Skoda Octavia - 71.7% first-time pass, 10,686 tests
• 2013 Skoda Octavia - 77.5% first-time pass, 10,786 tests
• 2014 Skoda Octavia - 81.7% first-time pass, 16,769 tests
• 2015 Skoda Octavia - 83.4% first-time pass, 18,913 tests
• 2016 Skoda Octavia - 85.5% first-time pass, 20,319 tests
• 2017 Skoda Octavia - 86.2% first-time pass, 18,384 tests
• 2018 Skoda Octavia - 88.1% first-time pass, 16,561 tests
• 2019 Skoda Octavia - 88.2% first-time pass, 19,693 tests
• 2020 Skoda Octavia - 89.6% first-time pass, 8,424 tests

Skoda Octavia by fuel type

The Skoda Octavia's two most-tested fuel types split by 5.4 points: diesel passes first time 77.4% of the time (123,974 tests) against 82.8% for petrol (67,048 tests).

• Diesel Skoda Octavia - 77.4% first-time pass, 123,974 tests
• Petrol Skoda Octavia - 82.8% first-time pass, 67,048 tests

Other Skoda models

• Skoda Fabia - 75.3%
• Skoda Yeti - 80.3%
• Skoda Superb - 80%
• Skoda Citigo - 84.7%
• Skoda Karoq - 91.3%
• Skoda Kodiaq - 89.7%
• Skoda Rapid - 77.9%
• Skoda Roomster - 70.8%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Honda Cr-Z - 79%
• Ford Unclassified - 79%
• Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Crd A - 79%
• BMW 530 - 78.9%
• Audi Tt - 78.8%
• Ford Transit Courier - 78.8%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate