2017 Skoda Octavia — MOT failures & pass rate
103,173 MOT tests on the 2017 Skoda Octavia are in this dataset, and 89.3% of them passed. That is 1.2 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 11.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.9%) and lighting & signalling (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 3,093 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.9% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.1pp more often than petrol ones (11.6% vs 9.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 5,078 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 3,247 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.8% | 2,935 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.6% | 2,670 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 1,313 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 944 |
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 | 3,093 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,903 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,838 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 1,679 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 927 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 726 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.3% | 23,018 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.3% | 18,848 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.7% | 17,219 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.1% | 8,340 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 2,750 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 1,869 |
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 | 12,810 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 39,660 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 26,317 | 12.5% |
| 90-120k | 11,653 | 13.8% |
| 120-150k | 5,500 | 14.0% |
| 150k+ | 7,217 | 15.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 60,299 | 11.6% |
| Petrol | 42,870 | 9.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,518 | 8.2% |
| 2022 | 20,509 | 9.2% |
| 2023 | 20,740 | 10.9% |
| 2024 | 20,758 | 12.3% |
| 2025 | 20,648 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Octavia
On a 2017 Octavia, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.8% 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.
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 2017 Skoda Octavias pass their MOT?
89.3% of the 103,173 2017 Skoda Octavia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Skoda Octavia?
Tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.1%).
Does the 2017 Octavia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 15.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 103,173 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.