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Skoda Octavia SE TSI Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Skoda Octavia SE TSI car check

Is the Skoda Octavia SE TSI reliable? We analysed 3,505 real MOT tests across 1,578 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,505 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
92.6%
Typical Mileage
39,364mi
Annual Mileage
9,102mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Skoda Octavia SE TSI 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 TSI.

Skoda Octavia SE TSI Number Plates

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

Skoda Octavia SE TSI MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

95.7%
2024
93.1%
2023
91.2%
2022
90.7%
2021

Skoda Octavia SE TSI Common Faults & Problems

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 40
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 7
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 6
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 5

Skoda Octavia SE TSI Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
5,785 mi/yr
Typical
9,102 mi/yr
Average
13,363 mi/yr
Heavy usage
14,307 mi/yr

Skoda Octavia SE TSI MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2024 210 95.7% 321 22,448 41,742
2023 436 93.1% 16,260 29,032 48,961
2022 1,020 91.2% 20,772 29,662 41,060
2021 623 90.7% 28,069 40,491 51,873

How Long Does a Skoda Octavia SE TSI Last?

Based on 1,578 Skoda Octavia SE TSI vehicles on UK roads.

Average
2.4 years
Median
2.0 years

Skoda Octavia SE TSI Mileage Distribution

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

Median
39,364 mi
75th Percentile
59,523 mi
95th Percentile
104,617 mi
Max Recorded
201,512 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Skoda Octavia SE TSI

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

Best year
2024

95.7% MOT pass rate from 210 tests

Year to avoid
2021

90.7% MOT pass rate from 623 tests

The best year to buy a used Skoda Octavia SE TSI is 2024, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.7% across 210 tests. The 2021 model year has the lowest pass rate at 90.7% — 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 TSI 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 TSI THIS CAR 92.6% 3,505 39,364 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
Ktm 450EXC 80.9% 2,462 3,322 mi 24 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Skoda Octavia SE TSI?

The Skoda Octavia SE TSI has an overall MOT pass rate of 92.6% across 3,505 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 TSI 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 TSI owner drives around 9,102 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 TSI — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Skoda Octavia SE TSI reliable?
Based on 3,505 MOT tests, the Skoda Octavia SE TSI has a 92.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Skoda Octavia SE TSI?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Skoda Octavia SE TSI do per year?
The typical Skoda Octavia SE TSI does around 9,102 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Skoda Octavia SE TSI last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Skoda Octavia SE TSI?
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 TSI?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Skoda Octavia SE TSI is 2024 with a 95.7% pass rate across 210 tests.