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Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI car check

Is the Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI reliable? We analysed 428 real MOT tests across 128 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI? Enter the reg for a free check:

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Data last updated: · Based on 428 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.1%
Typical Mileage
48,046mi
Annual Mileage
12,674mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI.

Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI Number Plates

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

Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

87.4%
2021
89.2%
2020

Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 9
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 2

Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
8,276 mi/yr
Typical
12,674 mi/yr
Average
17,676 mi/yr
Heavy usage
24,631 mi/yr

Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2021 246 87.4% 33,756 48,475 71,989
2020 166 89.2% 30,252 43,602 68,707

How Long Does a Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI Last?

Based on 128 Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI vehicles on UK roads.

Average
4.0 years
Median
4.0 years

Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI Mileage Distribution

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

Median
48,046 mi
75th Percentile
71,910 mi
95th Percentile
129,668 mi
Max Recorded
263,361 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2020

89.2% MOT pass rate from 166 tests

Year to avoid
2021

87.4% MOT pass rate from 246 tests

The best year to buy a used Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.2% across 166 tests. The 2021 model year has the lowest pass rate at 87.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Skoda Octavia SE First Edition 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 SE First Edition TDI THIS CAR 88.1% 428 48,046 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
Lexmoto Tekken 125 Mh 125 GY-15 70.7% 382 5,288 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI?

The Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.1% across 428 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI owner drives around 12,674 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 SE First Edition TDI — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI reliable?
Based on 428 MOT tests, the Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI has a 88.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI do per year?
The typical Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI does around 12,674 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Skoda Octavia SE First Edition 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.
What is the best year to buy a Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Skoda Octavia SE First Edition TDI is 2020 with a 89.2% pass rate across 166 tests.