2021 Skoda Octavia L First — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 743 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Skoda Octavia L First, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension. Its pass rate of 93.3% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 8.5% in the 60-90k group versus 2.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 31 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 19 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.2% | 9 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.7% | 5 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.4% | 3 |
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 | 25 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 11 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 7 |
| 4 | Washers | 4 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 3 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 3 |
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 | 17.4% | 129 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.2% | 61 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.7% | 57 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.5% | 48 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 19 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 8 |
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 | 305 | 2.6% |
| 30-60k | 338 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 71 | 8.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 414 | 4.1% |
| Diesel | 329 | 10.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 44 | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 339 | 5.0% |
| 2025 | 356 | 9.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Octavia L First
Before buying a 2021 Skoda Octavia L First, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.2% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (4.2% 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 (2.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (1.2% 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 2021 Skoda Octavia L Firsts pass their MOT?
93.3% of the 743 2021 Skoda Octavia L First MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Skoda Octavia L First?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.6%).
Does the 2021 Octavia L First get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.6% in the 0-30k band to 8.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 743 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.