Used Skoda Octavia Hatchback 2013-2020 reliability

When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.

The Skoda Octavia is a large and immensely practical hatchback, so it might have been used for a variety of duties, including family chores and taxi runs. Always check mileage details and the car’s history. Look at the bodywork for signs of scuffs, which could be the result of tight urban car parks, and the wheels for any kerb damage. Check the operation of the seats and that they all fold as they should, and make sure the fabic is in good condition.

Several Octavia owners have reported issues with the dual-clutch DSG automatic gearbox, with some reporting electrical glitches and others mechanical faults. It's therefore imperative to make sure that any automatic Octavia changes through the gears smoothly and without hesitation in both manual and automatic modes. Don't forget to get the car up to speed and check that the oil for the gearbox has been changed every 38,000 miles.

Other Octavia owners have reported glitches with the sat-nav system and other minor electrical niggles, so it's worth taking the time to make sure everything works OK. Some owners have also reported failure of the water pump, leading to large bills.

At the time of writing, the Octavia has seven recalls listed. To check whether your car has been affected, you can contact your local Skoda dealer. You will not need to pay for anything involving the recall.

Manual child lock

The child lock can disengage without the driver knowing, with the potential for occupants being able to open the door from the inside and get out of the car. This recall involves Octavias made between 25 November 2015 and 14 April 2016.

Rear head restraints

There's been a recall for the rear head restraints of the Octavias built between 1 May and 31 August 2018 where the mounting bracket might not have been welded correctly during production. Your local dealer will be able to let you know if your car needs to have any recall work carried out.

Rear wheel bearing

The rear wheel bearing housing on some Octavias assembled between 1 and 31 August 2017 could shatter because the metal wasn't hardened correctly during manufacture. If your car is affected, it will need to have new housings fitted at a Skoda dealer to sort the issue.

Slow airbag inflation

The driver's airbag on a small number of cars made between 8 January and 28 February 2018 might not inflate quickly enough in a collision and will require a new unit to be installed by a dealer to fix the problem.

Front passenger airbag

A problem has been identified with a small number of cars manufactured between 1 July and 15 November 2014 with the front passenger airbag not deploying correctly in a collision. Find out if your car is affected by this by speaking with your local Skoda dealer because the airbag will need to be replaced.

Primer

Primer may not have been added to the rear side window seals of some cars made from 12 - 20 August 2019. Any car affected by this will need to have the side windows replaced as part of this action.

Camshaft adjuster housing

The bolts for the camshaft adjuster housing could come loose and ruin the pulley next to it. This applies to a small number of Octavias manufactured between 1 April and 30 October 2014.

Click here for more information. Contact your local Skoda dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall.

In the most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, the Octavia petrol finished in first place out of 25 cars in the family car class with a terrific score of 99.3%. This means it's more reliable than all of its direct rivals, including the Ford Focus, Seat Leon and VW Golf, according to our survey.

Petrol versions of the Octavia had the least faults, with just 6% suffering glitches. All issues were inconsequential, too, because they didn’t cause any breakdowns and were put right in less than a day. Plus, all work was done for free.

As a brand, Skoda came 13th out of 31 manufacturers in the survey, which is a respectable result. That places it above Seat, Vauxhall and Volkswagen, but below Honda, Hyundai and Toyota.

Used Skoda Octavia reliability: the owners' view

In our most recent Reliability Survey, Skoda Octavia (2013-2020) owners said their cars proved generally dependable, though experiences varied. Several owners reported years of trouble-free motoring, with one describing their Octavia as “completely reliable” over more than 100,000 miles. However, others highlighted a number of faults – particularly with diesel variants – including issues with the infotainment system, faulty parking sensors, and warning lights appearing without clear cause.

Dealership experiences were similarly mixed. Some owners praised their local Skoda service centres for quick diagnostics and efficient repairs, while others criticised dealers for poor communication and delays in sourcing parts. A few owners felt repairs were costly and not always fully resolved on the first visit. Electrical gremlins were noted in a handful of cases, and while not widespread, they did affect owner confidence.

Overall, while many Octavias performed well, the owner feedback suggests there's room for improvement in both reliability consistency and aftersales support.

If you'd like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.