2008 Skoda Octavia- — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 40,908 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Skoda Octavia-, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 73.4% was in line with the average for small family cars of a similar age (73.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 28.4% in the 150k+ group versus 13.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.8% | 6,036 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 5,744 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.3% | 2,969 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.2% | 2,550 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 2,348 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 1,932 |
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 | 2,364 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,045 |
| 3 | Joints | 1,890 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 1,657 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 1,541 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,457 |
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 | 39.6% | 16,187 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.2% | 11,936 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.2% | 9,912 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 6,466 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.1% | 4,941 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.4% | 4,248 |
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 | 141 | 13.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,362 | 16.8% |
| 60-90k | 4,830 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 9,633 | 25.9% |
| 120-150k | 10,486 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 14,437 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 33,408 | 26.9% |
| Petrol | 7,493 | 25.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,029 | 25.5% |
| 2022 | 9,240 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 8,271 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 7,240 | 27.7% |
| 2025 | 6,128 | 27.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Octavia-
Before buying a 2008 Skoda Octavia-, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 14.8% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (14.8% 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 (7.3% 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 2008 Skoda Octavia-s pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 40,908 2008 Skoda Octavia- MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Skoda Octavia-?
Suspension, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.0%).
Does the 2008 Octavia- get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 0-30k band to 28.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 40,908 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.