2021 Skoda Octavia L S-A — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 960 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Skoda Octavia L S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension. Its pass rate of 92.7% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 9.9% in the 90-120k group versus 1.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.9% | 37 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 22 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.8% | 17 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 13 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.5% | 5 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 5 |
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 | 26 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 12 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 9 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 7 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 6 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 5 |
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 | 17.7% | 170 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.9% | 95 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.7% | 93 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.4% | 42 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 26 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 4 |
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 | 228 | 1.8% |
| 30-60k | 426 | 8.7% |
| 60-90k | 182 | 8.2% |
| 90-120k | 91 | 9.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 50 | 4.0% |
| 2024 | 442 | 5.2% |
| 2025 | 451 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Octavia L S-A
Before buying a 2021 Skoda Octavia L S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.9% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (3.9% 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 (2.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (1.8% 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 S-As pass their MOT?
92.7% of the 960 2021 Skoda Octavia L S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Skoda Octavia L S-A?
Tyres, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.3%).
Does the 2021 Octavia L S-A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 1.8% in the 0-30k band to 9.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 960 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.