2013 Skoda Octavia — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Skoda Octavia passed 82.7% of its 67,372 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (19.3% fail rate), the 2013 Octavia comes out 2.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.1%) and suspension (7.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 3,044 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.1% in the 0-30k band and 19.9% in the 150k+ band, a 9.8-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.7pp more often than petrol ones (17.7% vs 16.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 25.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 4,756 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.0% | 4,743 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.8% | 3,915 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.7% | 3,170 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 1,490 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 1,381 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 3,044 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 2,402 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,780 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,602 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 1,275 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 1,181 |
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 | 25.7% | 17,294 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.1% | 16,885 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.1% | 14,902 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.6% | 5,781 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 4,133 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 3,325 |
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 | 773 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 7,634 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 17,788 | 15.1% |
| 90-120k | 17,356 | 18.6% |
| 120-150k | 10,873 | 20.4% |
| 150k+ | 12,942 | 19.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 54,943 | 17.7% |
| Petrol | 12,429 | 16.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,110 | 15.1% |
| 2022 | 13,996 | 16.0% |
| 2023 | 13,672 | 17.9% |
| 2024 | 13,113 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 12,481 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Octavia
On a 2013 Octavia, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.0% 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.
- Tyres (5.8% 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 2013 Skoda Octavias pass their MOT?
82.7% of the 67,372 2013 Skoda Octavia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Skoda Octavia?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by suspension (7.0%).
Does the 2013 Octavia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 19.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 67,372 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.