Does the Skoda Octavia fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Skoda Octavia records 13.92 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 14.89 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−0.97, 95% interval −1.04 to −0.90). It ranks 337 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Skoda Octavia by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Skoda Octavia is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 22,201 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 22,201 | 1.88 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 21,522 | 1.82 |
| Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 17,237 | 1.46 |
| A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 14,082 | 1.19 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 14,009 | 1.19 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,181,220 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Skoda Octavia gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
25.7% of Skoda Octavia MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 7,160 miles later (20,420 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 20,420 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Skoda Octavia 1999 · Skoda Octavia 2000 · Skoda Octavia 2001 · Skoda Octavia 2002 · Skoda Octavia 2003 · Skoda Octavia 2004 · Skoda Octavia 2005 · Skoda Octavia 2006 · Skoda Octavia 2007 · Skoda Octavia 2008 · Skoda Octavia 2009 · Skoda Octavia 2010 · Skoda Octavia 2011 · Skoda Octavia 2012 · Skoda Octavia 2013 · Skoda Octavia 2014 · Skoda Octavia 2015 · Skoda Octavia 2016 · Skoda Octavia 2017 · Skoda Octavia 2018 · Skoda Octavia 2019 · Skoda Octavia 2020 · Skoda Octavia in Norway · Skoda Octavia in Finland · Skoda Octavia in the Netherlands · Skoda Octavia by postcode area · Skoda Octavia body, chassis and structure failures · Skoda Octavia brakes failures · Skoda Octavia vehicle identification failures · Skoda Octavia noise, emissions and leaks failures · Skoda Octavia road wheels failures · Skoda Octavia seat belts and airbags failures · Skoda Octavia steering failures · Skoda Octavia suspension failures · Skoda Octavia tyres failures · Skoda Octavia visibility failures