2011 Skoda Octavia — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 74,309 MOT tests, the 2011 Skoda Octavia recorded a 78.0% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 22.8%, so the 2011 Octavia sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.2%) and lighting & signalling (10.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, linkage ball joint dust cover and position lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 3,606 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.8% in the 0-30k band and 24.4% in the 150k+ band, a 13.6-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 21.2% of the time against 22.6% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.2% | 9,058 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 7,682 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.7% | 4,198 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.2% | 3,840 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 2,027 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 1,965 |
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 | 3,606 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 2,645 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 2,383 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,059 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,020 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 1,878 |
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 | 35.0% | 26,037 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.9% | 19,952 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.1% | 16,400 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 10,129 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.1% | 6,045 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 3,491 |
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 | 694 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 6,582 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 17,551 | 19.5% |
| 90-120k | 20,689 | 23.0% |
| 120-150k | 14,080 | 24.3% |
| 150k+ | 14,689 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 39,597 | 22.6% |
| Petrol | 34,707 | 21.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,370 | 19.8% |
| 2022 | 15,776 | 20.7% |
| 2023 | 15,026 | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 14,213 | 23.8% |
| 2025 | 12,924 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Octavia
On a 2011 Octavia, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (12.2% 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 (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.7% 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 2011 Skoda Octavias pass their MOT?
78.0% of the 74,309 2011 Skoda Octavia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Skoda Octavia?
Suspension, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.3%).
Does the 2011 Octavia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 0-30k band to 24.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 74,309 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.