Part of the Skoda Octavia Mk4 (2020–2024) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2021 Skoda Octavia: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Skoda Octavias, from 9,632 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

9,632MOT tests in 2025
89%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
11,300typical miles a year
3.9×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Skoda Octavias than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Shock absorbers3.9× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    6.7% All 2021 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.3% of all 2021 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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints4.6× usual
    Skoda Octavia
    5.1% All 2021 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.2% of all 2021 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.

By area

The share of 2021 Skoda Octavia MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    25% 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
    12% 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
    10% 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
    4% 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
2023715Tyres 18%
20226,241Tyres 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%
20084,659Suspension 58%
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 2021 Skoda Octavias registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score