2008 Skoda Octavia — MOT failures & pass rate
40,926 MOT tests on the 2008 Skoda Octavia are in this dataset, and 73.4% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 26.3%, so the 2008 Octavia sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (14.8%) 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 2,366 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.4% versus 13.5%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (26.9% vs 25.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.8% | 6,038 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 5,745 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.2% | 2,969 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.2% | 2,551 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 2,349 |
| 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 | 2,366 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,047 |
| 3 | Joints | 1,891 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 1,657 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 1,541 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,458 |
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% | 16,188 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.2% | 11,940 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.2% | 9,916 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 6,468 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.1% | 4,943 |
| 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 | 4,836 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 9,640 | 25.9% |
| 120-150k | 10,491 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 14,437 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 33,420 | 26.9% |
| Petrol | 7,499 | 25.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,034 | 25.5% |
| 2022 | 9,244 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 8,274 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 7,244 | 27.7% |
| 2025 | 6,130 | 27.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Octavia
On a 2008 Octavia, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (7.2% 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 2008 Skoda Octavias pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 40,926 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 40,926 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.