Used car guide

2012 Skoda Octavia: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Skoda Octavias, from 9,805 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

9,805MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
9,100typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Skoda Octavias than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Shock absorbers2× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    12.9% All 2012 cars
    6.5%
    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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints2.6× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    8.2% All 2012 cars
    3.2%
    Rough price £50–£150

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Individual direction indicators2.4× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    7.2% All 2012 cars
    3%
    Rough price £10–£80

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

  • Sub-frame1.8× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    9.1% All 2012 cars
    5%
    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.

  • Side repeaters4.2× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    5% All 2012 cars
    1.2%
    Rough price £10–£80

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

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.8% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars. Track rod end: 1.5% here, against 4.9% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Skoda Octavia MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    47% 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
    29% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Driveshafts and joints
    6% of testsRough price £60–£350

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

Looking at a Skoda Octavia?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

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%
201110,080Suspension 52%
20108,184Suspension 54%
20095,812Suspension 55%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Skoda Octavias registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score