2021 Skoda Octavia Vrs S-A — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,444 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Skoda Octavia Vrs S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 93.6% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.7% | 54 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 23 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.2% | 17 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.6% | 9 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 9 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 29 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 9 |
| 3 | Washers | 9 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 8 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 8 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 7 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 18.5% | 267 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.1% | 189 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.7% | 96 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.6% | 81 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.9% | 27 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 7 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 618 | 5.2% |
| 30-60k | 706 | 7.4% |
| 60-90k | 90 | 5.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 902 | 6.5% |
| Diesel | 542 | 6.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 34 | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 725 | 6.6% |
| 2025 | 684 | 6.6% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Octavia Vrs S-A
Before buying a 2021 Skoda Octavia Vrs S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.7% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (3.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (1.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2021 Skoda Octavia Vrs S-As pass their MOT?
93.6% of the 1,444 2021 Skoda Octavia Vrs S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Skoda Octavia Vrs S-A?
Tyres, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.6%).
Does the 2021 Octavia Vrs S-A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.2% in the 0-30k band to 5.6% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,444 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.