2012 Skoda Octavia — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 71,878 MOT tests, the 2012 Skoda Octavia recorded a 78.7% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (21.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (11.1%) and lighting & signalling (10.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 4,261 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.6% versus 10.0%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.7% fail against 22.0% for diesel, a 3.3-point gap across 71,878 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.1% | 7,945 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 7,499 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.7% | 4,067 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.2% | 3,764 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 2,024 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 1,767 |
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 | 4,261 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 2,473 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,252 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,037 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,625 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 1,489 |
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 | 30.8% | 22,169 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.3% | 19,620 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.8% | 15,692 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 10,221 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.7% | 5,517 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 3,434 |
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 | 761 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 6,646 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 16,163 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 18,534 | 21.8% |
| 120-150k | 13,251 | 24.2% |
| 150k+ | 16,495 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 57,407 | 22.0% |
| Petrol | 14,471 | 18.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,006 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 15,203 | 20.0% |
| 2023 | 14,523 | 21.5% |
| 2024 | 13,593 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 12,553 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Octavia
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 11.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (11.1% 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 (10.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2012 Skoda Octavias pass their MOT?
78.7% of the 71,878 2012 Skoda Octavia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Skoda Octavia?
Suspension, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.4%).
Does the 2012 Octavia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 24.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 71,878 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.