2007 Skoda Octavia — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 44,121 MOT tests, the 2007 Skoda Octavia recorded a 72.8% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (26.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.5%) and lighting & signalling (14.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and joints — coil spring alone was recorded 2,558 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.4% in the 0-30k band and 28.7% in the 150k+ band, a 15.3-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.9% fail against 27.5% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 44,121 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 41.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.5% | 6,848 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 6,191 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.9% | 3,496 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.3% | 2,792 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 2,732 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 2,087 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 2,558 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,282 |
| 3 | Joints | 2,043 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,887 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 1,733 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 1,620 |
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 | 41.6% | 18,356 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.4% | 12,987 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.2% | 11,103 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 6,302 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.2% | 5,813 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.5% | 5,089 |
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 | 112 | 13.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,327 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 4,601 | 22.7% |
| 90-120k | 9,307 | 26.7% |
| 120-150k | 11,933 | 28.3% |
| 150k+ | 16,809 | 28.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 33,637 | 27.5% |
| Petrol | 10,484 | 25.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,308 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 10,051 | 26.4% |
| 2023 | 8,881 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 7,576 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 6,305 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Octavia
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.5% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.5% 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 (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.9% 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 2007 Skoda Octavias pass their MOT?
72.8% of the 44,121 2007 Skoda Octavia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Skoda Octavia?
Suspension, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.0%).
Does the 2007 Octavia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.4% in the 0-30k band to 28.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 44,121 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.