2018 Skoda Octavia — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Skoda Octavia passed 90.5% of its 92,411 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (10.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and lighting & signalling (3.2%) 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 shock absorbers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 3,049 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.0% versus 4.9%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 8.3% fail against 10.9% for diesel, a 2.6-point gap across 92,406 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 4,115 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 2,938 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.4% | 2,199 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 1,909 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.1% | 1,035 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 642 |
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 | 3,049 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,520 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 1,481 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,424 |
| 5 | Wipers | 642 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 629 |
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 | 21.5% | 19,897 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.8% | 15,549 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.1% | 13,072 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.9% | 7,334 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 2,489 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 1,094 |
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 | 20,935 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 38,124 | 8.9% |
| 60-90k | 18,503 | 12.4% |
| 90-120k | 7,322 | 13.7% |
| 120-150k | 3,427 | 13.3% |
| 150k+ | 4,095 | 14.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 50,891 | 8.3% |
| Diesel | 41,515 | 10.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,567 | 7.1% |
| 2022 | 18,534 | 8.1% |
| 2023 | 18,334 | 9.0% |
| 2024 | 18,354 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 18,622 | 12.3% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Octavia
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.5% 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 (3.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.4% 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 2018 Skoda Octavias pass their MOT?
90.5% of the 92,411 2018 Skoda Octavia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Skoda Octavia?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.2%).
Does the 2018 Octavia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 14.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 92,411 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.