2010 Skoda Octavia — MOT failures & pass rate
63,726 MOT tests on the 2010 Skoda Octavia are in this dataset, and 76.1% of them passed. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (24.1% 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 (13.6%) and lighting & signalling (10.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, ball joint dust cover and linkage ball joint dust cover — coil spring alone was recorded 2,967 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.1% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.0% fail against 24.5% for diesel, a 2.5-point gap across 63,726 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.6% | 8,654 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 6,871 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.5% | 4,148 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.5% | 3,512 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 2,259 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 1,699 |
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 | 2,967 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 2,674 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 2,475 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 2,346 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,889 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,695 |
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 | 38.4% | 24,463 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.3% | 17,423 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.3% | 14,234 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 9,382 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.8% | 5,002 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 3,919 |
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 | 557 | 14.2% |
| 30-60k | 3,940 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 11,129 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 16,455 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 14,483 | 24.9% |
| 150k+ | 17,147 | 26.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 46,508 | 24.5% |
| Petrol | 17,218 | 22.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,671 | 22.8% |
| 2022 | 13,801 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 12,934 | 24.2% |
| 2024 | 11,747 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 10,573 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Octavia
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.6% 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 (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.5% 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 2010 Skoda Octavias pass their MOT?
76.1% of the 63,726 2010 Skoda Octavia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Skoda Octavia?
Suspension, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.8%).
Does the 2010 Octavia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.2% in the 0-30k band to 26.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 63,726 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.