Skoda Octavia (1998)

2,287 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70.8% first-time pass rate

1998 Skoda Octavia

CarHunch analysed 2,287 real MOT records for the 1998 Skoda Octavia. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 9.2% below UK average
70.8%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
86,316
typical mileage
69,310–104,522 middle half
19.2%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.91
avg MOT failures per car
over 9.4 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1998 Skoda Octavia

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Skoda Octavia

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (63%) 1,430 71.1% 2.77
Diesel (37%) 854 70.3% 3.13
LPG (0%) 3 73.3% 3.67

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Skoda Octavia vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

69,310
low mileage
86,316
typical
104,522
high mileage

Half of all 1998 Skoda Octavia vehicles fall between 69,310 and 104,522 miles.

1998 Skoda Octavia — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 29 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (5% of peak).

579 29 2014 2023

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.

MOT History Averages

9.4
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.91
Avg failures per vehicle
9.7
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1998 Skoda Octavia

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 56.4%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 54.4%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 43.5%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 39.8%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 24.3%
    Oil leak
  • 22.4%
    Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
  • 21.5%
    Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
  • 21.1%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Skoda Octavia?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Skoda Octavia:

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024