Used car guide

2010 Skoda Octavia: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 Skoda Octavias, from 8,184 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

8,184MOT tests in 2025
62%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)
8,600typical miles a year
3×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 Skoda Octavias than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Suspension arm3× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    12.4% All 2010 cars
    4.1%
    Rough price £100–£300

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

  • Sub-frame2.2× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    15.1% All 2010 cars
    7%
    Rough price £300–£1,000

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

  • Shock absorbers1.9× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    15.2% All 2010 cars
    7.8%
    Rough price £150–£400

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

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.6× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    17.2% All 2010 cars
    11%
    Rough price £100–£300

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

  • Ball joint dust cover2.5× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    9.7% All 2010 cars
    3.9%
    Rough price £80–£200

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.4% here, against 6.8% of all 2010 cars. Exhaust system: 3.3% here, against 7.6% of all 2010 cars.

By area

The share of 2010 Skoda Octavia MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    54% 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
    34% 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
    32% 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
    27% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    8% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20208,303Tyres 27%
201919,661Tyres 27%
201816,493Tyres 27%
201718,112Tyres 28%
201619,942Tyres 28%
201518,421Tyres 30%
201416,192Tyres 31%
201310,171Suspension 37%
20129,805Suspension 47%
201110,080Suspension 52%
20095,812Suspension 55%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2010 Skoda Octavias registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score