Part of the Skoda Octavia Mk2 (2004–2013) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2008 Skoda Octavia: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Skoda Octavias, from 4,659 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,659MOT tests in 2025
57%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
8,100typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Skoda Octavias than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Sub-frame2.1× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    16% All 2008 cars
    7.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.1× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    15.1% All 2008 cars
    7.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6%, against 3.2% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.7× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    18.8% All 2008 cars
    11.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 2.3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Individual direction indicators3.2× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    10% All 2008 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 1.3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Shock absorbers1.7× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    13.4% All 2008 cars
    8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 2.1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Better than most

Headlights: 3.3% here, against 10.7% of all 2008 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 2.5% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Skoda Octavia MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    58% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    37% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    31% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    15% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    11% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023715Tyres 18%
20226,241Tyres 25%
20219,632Tyres 25%
202011,969Tyres 27%
201919,669Tyres 27%
201816,496Tyres 27%
201718,117Tyres 28%
201619,945Tyres 28%
201518,429Tyres 30%
201416,202Tyres 31%
201310,178Suspension 37%
20129,820Suspension 47%
201110,096Suspension 52%
20108,198Suspension 54%
20095,813Suspension 55%
20074,750Suspension 59%
20063,852Suspension 56%
20052,306Suspension 56%
20041,380Suspension 53%
20031,080Suspension 54%
2002687Suspension 52%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Skoda Octavias registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score