2021 Skoda Octavia Technology — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,430 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Skoda Octavia Technology, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension. Its pass rate of 91.7% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 13.9% in the 150k+ group versus 4.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.9% | 172 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 133 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.0% | 89 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.3% | 56 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.1% | 51 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 27 |
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 | 137 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 70 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 54 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 47 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 46 |
| 6 | Washers | 40 |
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 | 20.3% | 899 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.0% | 355 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.5% | 333 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.7% | 298 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 116 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 33 |
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 | 1,031 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 2,209 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 813 | 11.2% |
| 90-120k | 265 | 9.1% |
| 120-150k | 76 | 10.5% |
| 150k+ | 36 | 13.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,999 | 8.1% |
| Diesel | 1,431 | 8.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 42 | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 230 | 4.3% |
| 2024 | 2,075 | 8.3% |
| 2025 | 2,064 | 8.9% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Octavia Technology
Before buying a 2021 Skoda Octavia Technology, 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 (3.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.0% 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 Technologys pass their MOT?
91.7% of the 4,430 2021 Skoda Octavia Technology MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Skoda Octavia Technology?
Tyres, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.0%).
Does the 2021 Octavia Technology get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 13.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,430 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.