2020 Skoda Octavia L First — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,956 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Skoda Octavia L First, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension. Its pass rate of 93.0% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 14.0% in the 90-120k group versus 4.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.6% | 107 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 50 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.6% | 46 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 22 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.7% | 21 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.5% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 55 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 21 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 21 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 20 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 17 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 16 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 18.5% | 548 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.9% | 233 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.7% | 227 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 150 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 52 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 14 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,388 | 4.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,300 | 8.2% |
| 60-90k | 213 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 43 | 14.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,613 | 6.8% |
| Diesel | 343 | 8.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 956 | 3.9% |
| 2024 | 986 | 7.9% |
| 2025 | 1,005 | 9.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Octavia L First
Before buying a 2020 Skoda Octavia L First, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.6% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (3.6% 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.
- 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.
- Suspension (1.6% 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.
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 2020 Skoda Octavia L Firsts pass their MOT?
93.0% of the 2,956 2020 Skoda Octavia L First MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Skoda Octavia L First?
Tyres, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.7%).
Does the 2020 Octavia L First get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.8% in the 0-30k band to 14.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,956 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.