2009 Skoda Octavia- — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 46,767 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Skoda Octavia-, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 75.2% was in line with the average for small family cars of a similar age (74.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.4% in the 150k+ group versus 11.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.3% | 6,226 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 5,725 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 3,139 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 2,702 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 2,224 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 1,771 |
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 | 2,057 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 1,912 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,879 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,749 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,733 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 1,529 |
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 | 38.1% | 17,837 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.7% | 13,445 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.7% | 10,622 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 6,311 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.5% | 3,983 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.2% | 3,841 |
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 | 386 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,868 | 18.4% |
| 60-90k | 7,451 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 11,751 | 24.2% |
| 120-150k | 10,999 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 13,281 | 27.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 36,501 | 25.5% |
| Petrol | 10,266 | 22.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,947 | 23.9% |
| 2022 | 10,236 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 9,403 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 8,572 | 25.5% |
| 2025 | 7,609 | 26.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Octavia-
Before buying a 2009 Skoda Octavia-, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 13.3% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (13.3% 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 (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.7% 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 2009 Skoda Octavia-s pass their MOT?
75.2% of the 46,767 2009 Skoda Octavia- MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Skoda Octavia-?
Suspension, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.2%).
Does the 2009 Octavia- get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 27.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 46,767 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.