2021 Skoda Octavia Iv S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 2,015 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Skoda Octavia Iv S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 90.6% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 13.1% in the 90-120k group versus 6.4% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

2,015

MOT tests analysed

9.4%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

3.3

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2021 Skoda Octavia Iv S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	5.4%	108
2	Suspension	2.3%	46
3	Lighting & signalling	1.7%	34
4	Visibility	0.8%	16
5	Seat belts & restraints	0.7%	14
6	Brakes	0.7%	13

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2021 Skoda Octavia Iv S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	40
2	Shock absorbers	37
3	Headlamp aim	31
4	Pins and bushes	29
5	Malfunction indicator lamp	12
6	Washers	11

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Skoda Octavia Iv S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	21.4%	432
2	Suspension	10.5%	212
3	Other defects	5.7%	115
4	Brakes	4.5%	91
5	Visibility	3.0%	61
6	Lighting & signalling	0.8%	16

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2021 Octavia Iv S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	344	6.4%
30-60k	1,011	8.8%
60-90k	501	11.6%
90-120k	130	13.1%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2021 Octavia Iv S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2022	67	3.0%
2023	115	2.6%
2024	888	10.7%
2025	916	9.8%

What to check before buying a 2021 Octavia Iv S-A

Before buying a 2021 Skoda Octavia Iv S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.4% of tests for this year.

Tyres (5.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Suspension (2.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Lighting & signalling (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.

Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.

Frequently asked questions

How many 2021 Skoda Octavia Iv S-As pass their MOT?

90.6% of the 2,015 2021 Skoda Octavia Iv S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Skoda Octavia Iv S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by suspension (2.3%).

Does the 2021 Octavia Iv S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 13.1% in the 90-120k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 2,015 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.