Skoda Octavia (2018)
2018 Skoda Octavia
CarHunch analysed 17,148 real MOT records for the 2018 Skoda Octavia. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2018 Skoda Octavia is solidly more reliable than the UK average, with an 88% first-time pass rate compared to 80%, though one concerning note is that 20.4% have experienced a dangerous defect at some point—worth a careful pre-purchase inspection. Petrol versions perform slightly better at 89.7% pass rate versus 86% for diesels, suggesting the petrol engine is the safer bet if you have a choice.
At 40,290 miles median, these cars sit right where you'd expect for their age, though the average creeps to 57,090 on higher-mileage examples. The typical car racks up 0.66 failures and 5.8 advisories per test, which is reasonable—mostly wear items rather than structural problems—so budget for routine maintenance but don't expect expensive surprises if the service history checks out.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 3.7 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2018 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.
- ⚠️ 20.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (55%) | 9,411 | 89.7% | 0.59 |
| Diesel (45%) | 7,732 | 86% | 0.75 |
| Other (0%) | 2 | 100% | 0 |
| Gas Diesel (0%) | 2 | 100% | 0 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2018 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.
Half of all 2018 Skoda Octavia vehicles fall between 30,342 and 52,286 miles.
2018 Skoda Octavia — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 15,454 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 97% of the peak.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2018 Skoda Octavia
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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50.6%
Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil
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42.2%
Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil
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36.2%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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33.8%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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24.3%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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24.1%
Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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23%
Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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16.2%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Skoda Octavia?
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