2010 Skoda Octavia- — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 63,643 MOT tests analysed for the 2010 Skoda Octavia-, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 76.1% was in line with the average for small family cars of a similar age (75.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 26.1% in the 150k+ group versus 14.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.6% | 8,643 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 6,864 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.5% | 4,146 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.5% | 3,509 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 2,255 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 1,696 |
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 | 2,964 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 2,672 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 2,472 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 2,338 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,887 |
| 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% | 24,441 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.3% | 17,401 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.4% | 14,226 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 9,379 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.8% | 4,996 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 3,916 |
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 | 552 | 14.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,923 | 18.0% |
| 60-90k | 11,119 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 16,438 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 14,460 | 24.9% |
| 150k+ | 17,136 | 26.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 46,499 | 24.5% |
| Petrol | 17,144 | 22.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,654 | 22.8% |
| 2022 | 13,782 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 12,917 | 24.2% |
| 2024 | 11,733 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 10,557 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Octavia-
Before buying a 2010 Skoda Octavia-, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 13.6% of tests for this year.
- 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 Octavia-s pass their MOT?
76.1% of the 63,643 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 14.0% in the 0-30k band to 26.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 63,643 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.