Skoda
Octavia SE L Tsi IV S A
1,491 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Octavia SE L Tsi IV S As pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 11.1 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
88.6%
Pass-after-fix
0.9%
Fail
10.0%
Avg miles
42,903
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars first registered from January 2006 meet Euro 4 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
The picture
Octavia Se L Tsi Iv S-A: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,491 MOT tests, the Octavia Se L Tsi Iv S-A returns 88.6% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. Windscreen damage and a tyre with the cords showing round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 42,903, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A tyre seriously damaged
40 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
- 02
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
39 occurrences · 2.6% of tests
- 03
A tyre cords visible or damaged
26 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 04
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
15 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 05
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
12 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 06
A tyre seriously damaged
10 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 07
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
10 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 08
A suspension pin, bush or joint likely to become detached
8 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 09
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
6 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 10
A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber
5 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£200–£430
If every one of this Octavia SE L Tsi IV S A's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
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Owner reports · Honest John
What owners actually report.
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
What's good
More upmarket than ever, yet still practical and comfortable, the Skoda Octavia is a very appealing package. Quality shines through, yet it remains great value for money. An excellent if unexciting family car.
Recent owner-reported faults
- 12 Jan 2024
Report of gremlins with infotainment system in 2021 Skoda Octavia. Reader says that it becomes completely unresponsive, leaving them without the radio, parking sensors and unable to adjust the climate control. Usually fixes itself after a day or two. How Much Is It To Get New Windows Made of "Fibrex"?This Is How Much New Windows Should Cost In 2026 Energy-Efficient Windows Sponsored Huggies Overnites Nighttime Baby Diapers Unscented, Size 7 (Over 41 Lb) - 13.0 Ea Nighttime Baby Diapers Unscented, Size 7 (Over 41 lb) Nighttime Baby Diapers Unscented, Size 7 (Over 41 lb)Walgreens.com
- 21 Jun 2022
Report of an 'enormous bang' from the front suspension of a Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0TDI 150PS DSG 4x4 when driving over rough roads as well as a clunking noise over mild bumps. Later discovered that the transport blocks were still fitted inside the springs.
- 5 Nov 2021
Long list of complaints from private hire operator with mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. They include warnings for a faulty charge system, bulbs and front sensors. Reports that the PHEV has a handbrake fault which causes the automatic box to shift into neutral. Car now at a dealer until mystery fault can be traced.
- 26 Aug 2021
Software glitches with 2021 Octavia iV. Navigation cannot save favourite destinations, including various issues. The car has been to the dealer three times without any success.
- 15 Jul 2021
Report of four-month old Skoda Octavia iV (mild hybrid) estate with 1400 miles from new 12v battery going flat despite high-voltage battery being fully charged. The 12v battery was replaced, although no fault was found.
Source: honestjohn.co.uk · 5 reports indexed
Buying or keeping an Octavia SE L Tsi IV S A?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own an Octavia SE L Tsi IV S A and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.