Used car guide

2020 Skoda Octavia: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2020 Skoda Octavias, from 8,303 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

8,303MOT tests in 2025
86%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%)
9,900typical miles a year
8.1×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2020 Skoda Octavias than on all cars registered in 2020.

  • Shock absorbers8.1× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    16.2% All 2020 cars
    2%
    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 joints3.3× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    6% All 2020 cars
    1.8%
    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.

  • Headlamp aim1.9× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    2.6% All 2020 cars
    1.4%
    Rough price £20–£60

    At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

By area

The share of 2020 Skoda Octavia MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    27% 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.

  • Suspension
    22% 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.

  • Brakes
    16% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    6% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    3% 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
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%
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 2020 Skoda Octavias registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score