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Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a car check

Is the Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a reliable? We analysed 1,516 real MOT tests across 455 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,516 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
90.0%
Typical Mileage
41,732mi
Annual Mileage
11,098mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a 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 L First ED TDI S-a.

Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a Number Plates

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

Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

90.4%
2021
90%
2020

Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a Common Faults & Problems

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 12
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 7
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 5
Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 4
Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 4

Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
6,911 mi/yr
Typical
11,098 mi/yr
Average
14,267 mi/yr
Heavy usage
17,574 mi/yr

Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2021 467 90.4% 26,626 39,615 55,454
2020 1,013 90.0% 27,529 42,889 61,466

How Long Does a Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a Last?

Based on 455 Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a vehicles on UK roads.

Average
4.2 years
Median
4.0 years

Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a Mileage Distribution

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

Median
41,732 mi
75th Percentile
60,986 mi
95th Percentile
115,696 mi
Max Recorded
284,677 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a

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

Best year
2021

90.4% MOT pass rate from 467 tests

Year to avoid
2020

90.0% MOT pass rate from 1,013 tests

The best year to buy a used Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.4% across 467 tests. The 2020 model year has the lowest pass rate at 90.0% — 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 L First ED TDI S-a 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 L First ED TDI S-a THIS CAR 90.0% 1,516 41,732 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
Bedford 99 170 66.4% 1,585 66,281 mi 40 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a?

The Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.0% across 1,516 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 L First ED TDI S-a 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 L First ED TDI S-a owner drives around 11,098 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 L First ED TDI S-a — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a reliable?
Based on 1,516 MOT tests, the Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a has a 90.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a do per year?
The typical Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a does around 11,098 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a?
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 L First ED TDI S-a?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Skoda Octavia SE L First ED TDI S-a is 2021 with a 90.4% pass rate across 467 tests.