2023 Skoda Octavia — MOT failures & pass rate
1,240 MOT tests on the 2023 Skoda Octavia are in this dataset, and 95.8% of them passed. That is 1.3 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 5.5%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.3%) and lighting & signalling (1.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 12 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 2.5% in the 0-30k band and 7.3% in the 90-120k band, a 4.8-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 11.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 0.0% of tests failed in 2023 against 5.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.3% | 29 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 14 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.0% | 12 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.6% | 7 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 6 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 12 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 6 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 6 |
| 5 | Washers | 6 |
| 6 | Size/type | 3 |
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 | 11.8% | 146 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.0% | 99 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.9% | 61 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.5% | 56 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 28 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.2% | 3 |
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 | 644 | 2.5% |
| 30-60k | 359 | 5.9% |
| 60-90k | 151 | 6.0% |
| 90-120k | 55 | 7.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 511 | 2.9% |
| Hybrid | 438 | 4.1% |
| Diesel | 291 | 6.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 133 | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 368 | 2.5% |
| 2025 | 739 | 5.8% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Octavia
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 2.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (2.3% 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 (1.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.0% 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 2023 Skoda Octavias pass their MOT?
95.8% of the 1,240 2023 Skoda Octavia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Skoda Octavia?
Tyres, recorded in 2.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.1%).
Does the 2023 Octavia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.5% in the 0-30k band to 7.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,240 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.