Diesel Skoda Octavia: MOT pass rate

77.4% of diesel Skoda Octavias pass the MOT first time, measured across 123,974 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 120,791.

Diesel against the other Skoda Octavia versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Skoda Octavia specifically, petrol is the strongest at 82.8%, and this diesel version sits 1.9 points below the 79.3% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Skoda Octavia fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Skoda Octavia had covered 120,791 miles at test, against 71,916 for the petrol. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Skoda Octavia page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Skoda Octavia

1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2% of tests (2.13x 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, 1.4% of tests (2.11x the national rate for this defect)
3. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.4% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this defect)
4. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.8% of tests (1.75x the national rate for this defect)
5. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 3.3% of tests (1.46x the national rate for this defect)
6. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.4% of tests (1.44x the national rate for this defect)
7. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.6% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this defect)
8. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.8% of tests (1.16x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 4.2% of tests
10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3% of tests

From 124,489 DVSA-tracked diesel Skoda Octavia tests, 2024, split out from the Skoda Octavia's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 5.02% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Skoda Octavia

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 16.8% of tests (4.29x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 4.6% of tests (2.29x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 2.8% of tests (2.03x the national rate for this defect)
4. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 8.7% of tests (1.68x the national rate for this defect)
5. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 1.1% of tests (1.35x the national rate for this defect)
6. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.4% of tests (1.3x the national rate for this defect)
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 17% of tests (1.27x the national rate for this defect), also fails
8. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 15.6% of tests (1.27x the national rate for this defect)
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 30% of tests, also fails
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 11.8% of tests

From 124,489 DVSA-tracked diesel Skoda Octavia tests, 2024.

Other Skoda Octavia fuel types

• Petrol Skoda Octavia - 82.8%

All Skoda Octavia MOT data · Every model