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Skoda Octavia S TDI Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Skoda Octavia S TDI car check

Is the Skoda Octavia S TDI reliable? We analysed 1,071 real MOT tests across 233 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,071 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.8%
Typical Mileage
104,007mi
Annual Mileage
10,786mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Skoda Octavia S TDI is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement, tyre has ply or cords exposed and suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Skoda Octavia S TDI.

Skoda Octavia S TDI Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Skoda Octavia S TDI. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Skoda Octavia S TDI Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Skoda Octavia S TDI fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement 2
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 2
Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush 2
position lamp(s) not working 1
Registration plate lamp not working 1
Service brake: efficiency below requirements 1
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 1
Brake performance not tested 1
Headlamp aim too high 1
Electronic power steering warning lamp indicates a failure in the system 1

Skoda Octavia S TDI Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Skoda Octavia S TDI owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
6,405 mi/yr
Typical
10,786 mi/yr
Average
14,149 mi/yr
Heavy usage
18,798 mi/yr

Skoda Octavia S TDI Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Skoda Octavia S TDI MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
104,007 mi
75th Percentile
154,693 mi
95th Percentile
220,948 mi
Max Recorded
413,675 mi

How Does the Skoda Octavia S TDI Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Skoda Octavia S TDI THIS CAR 86.8% 1,071 104,007 mi — yrs
Skoda Fabia 76% 4,863,673 58,216 mi 26 yrs
Skoda Octavia 77.7% 3,816,734 87,093 mi 28 yrs
Skoda Yeti 84.4% 844,079 52,202 mi 17 yrs
Ford Focus LX TDCI 74.4% 1,174 143,448 mi — yrs

Compared to the Skoda Fabia (76.0% pass rate) and the Skoda Octavia (77.7% pass rate), the Skoda Octavia S TDI outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Skoda Octavia S TDI?

The Skoda Octavia S TDI has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.8% across 1,071 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Skoda Octavia S TDI are suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2 recorded failures), tyre has ply or cords exposed (2), and suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Skoda Octavia S TDI owner drives around 10,786 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Skoda Octavia S TDI — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Skoda Octavia S TDI reliable?
Based on 1,071 MOT tests, the Skoda Octavia S TDI has a 86.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Skoda Octavia S TDI?
The most common MOT failures are suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement, tyre has ply or cords exposed, and suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Skoda Octavia S TDI do per year?
The typical Skoda Octavia S TDI does around 10,786 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Skoda Octavia S TDI last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Skoda Octavia S TDI?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.