2006 Skoda Octavia- — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 38,276 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Skoda Octavia-, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 71.9% was in line with the average for small family cars of a similar age (72.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 29.6% in the 150k+ group versus 21.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.3% | 5,863 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 5,433 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 3,443 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 2,934 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.2% | 2,361 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.1% | 2,335 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 2,476 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 2,247 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,915 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 1,834 |
| 5 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 1,727 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 1,726 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 40.7% | 15,579 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.7% | 11,378 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.4% | 10,889 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.8% | 6,051 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 5,949 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.8% | 4,528 |
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 | 176 | 21.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,369 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 4,127 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 8,545 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 9,999 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 14,015 | 29.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 24,635 | 29.0% |
| Petrol | 13,641 | 26.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,217 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 8,905 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 7,733 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 6,344 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 5,077 | 28.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Octavia-
Before buying a 2006 Skoda Octavia-, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 15.3% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (15.3% 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 (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2006 Skoda Octavia-s pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 38,276 2006 Skoda Octavia- MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Skoda Octavia-?
Suspension, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.2%).
Does the 2006 Octavia- get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.6% in the 0-30k band to 29.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 38,276 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.