2006 Skoda Octavia — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Skoda Octavia passed 71.9% of its 38,288 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 27.4%, so the 2006 Octavia sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.3%) and lighting & signalling (14.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, coil spring and headlamp aim — joints alone was recorded 2,478 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 21.6% in the 0-30k band and 29.6% in the 150k+ band, a 8.0-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (29.0% vs 26.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 40.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.3% | 5,863 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 5,433 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 3,444 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 2,936 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.2% | 2,362 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.1% | 2,335 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 2,478 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 2,247 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,915 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 1,834 |
| 5 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 1,727 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 1,726 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 40.7% | 15,583 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.7% | 11,382 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.4% | 10,893 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.8% | 6,052 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 5,951 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.8% | 4,530 |
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 | 176 | 21.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,369 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 4,127 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 8,547 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 10,004 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 14,020 | 29.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 24,636 | 29.0% |
| Petrol | 13,652 | 26.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,219 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 8,907 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 7,736 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 6,347 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 5,079 | 28.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Octavia
On a 2006 Octavia, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.0% 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 2006 Skoda Octavias pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 38,288 2006 Skoda Octavia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Skoda Octavia?
Suspension, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.2%).
Does the 2006 Octavia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.6% in the 0-30k band to 29.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 38,288 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.