2016 Skoda Octavia MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 80.5% of Skoda Octavias first used in 2016 passed their MOT first time, against 74.9% for all cars first used in 2016. Across 61,100 Octavia first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, lamps and electrical equipment and suspension.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Skoda Octavias first used in 2016 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
80.5%
of 19,915 first tests; all cars first used in 2016: 74.9%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
61,100
first tests, 2023–2025; 19,915 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
41.2%
of 19,915 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
90,000
middle half: 66,500–122,500 miles; all cars first used in 2016: 67,500

How the 2016 Skoda Octavia MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Octavias first used in 2016 against all cars first used in 2016 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Octavia figure was 5.6 points higher.

2016 OctaviaAll cars first used in 2016
70%80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2016, test year 2021: 82.7%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2022: 80.9%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2023: 78.6%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2024: 76.7%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2025: 74.9%2016 Octavia, test year 2021: 86.8%2016 Octavia, test year 2022: 84.7%2016 Octavia, test year 2023: 81.9%2016 Octavia, test year 2024: 81.2%2016 Octavia, test year 2025: 80.5%80.5%74.9%
View this chart as a table
Test year2016 OctaviaAll cars first used 2016Octavia first tests
202186.8%82.7%21,051
202284.7%80.9%20,932
202381.9%78.6%20,863
202481.2%76.7%20,322
202580.5%74.9%19,915

Common 2016 Skoda Octavia MOT failures

Share of the 11,462 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Tyres32.2%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment31.3%
Suspension21.3%
Brakes20.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks12.1%
Visibility7.4%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems2.9%
Body, chassis, structure2.2%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect11.6%1,334
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.6%1,097
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm9.0%1,035
Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed8.1%923
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords7.3%839

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2016 Skoda Octavia before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  2. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  3. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.

Common 2016 Skoda Octavia MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2016 Octavias, as a share of all 61,100 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge14.7%9,010
Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil13.0%7,957
Brake pads: wearing thin9.8%5,975
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened9.7%5,936
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing7.7%4,683

Questions about the 2016 Skoda Octavia MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2016 Skoda Octavia?

In 2025, 80.5% of Octavias first used in 2016 passed their MOT first time, against 74.9% for all cars first used in 2016. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2016 Octavia most often fail its MOT on?

Tyres (in 32.2% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (31.3%) and suspension (21.3%). The single most common item was “Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect” (11.6%).

How often does a 2016 Skoda Octavia fail its MOT?

In 2025, 19.5% of first tests on Octavias first used in 2016 did not pass first time: 15.4% failed, and a further 4.1% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 11,462 of 61,100 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2016 Skoda Octavia MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 14.7% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil” (13.0%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (9.8%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (9.7%) and “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (7.7%).

Is a 2016 Skoda Octavia reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 86.8% in 2021 to 80.5% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2016

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2016 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2016 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2016 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2016 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2016 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics

How the 2016 Skoda Octavia MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2016 Octavia” means a Skoda Octavia whose date of first use falls in 2016 (65, 16 and 66 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2016, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.