2020 Skoda Octavia 1.0L Petrol · GJ70 LUO

The vehicle's roadworthiness trend is currently stable but flagged by a recent advisory pattern that warrants attention. In the January 2026 test at 158,307 miles, the tester passed the vehicle but recorded light oil misting on both front shock absorbers, a repeat of the same advisory noted in the failed test on the same date. The initial failure that day stemmed from an exhaust Lambda reading outside specified limits after the second fast idle, a below-minimum nearside front tyre tread depth, and an excessively worn offside front anti-roll bar ball joint. All those defects were rectified before the pass was issued, indicating the owner addressed the immediate failures but left the shock absorber misting unresolved. This is not a critical structural risk today, but it signals a suspension system that is ageing and may require component replacement within the next service interval. At six years old with 158,307 miles, this Octavia has covered roughly 26,384 miles per year, which is substantially above the UK average of around 8,000 to 12,000 miles annually. The MOT record confirms this sustained high usage. Mileage jumped from 77,485 in January 2024 to 119,579 in January 2025, an addition of 42,094 miles in twelve months, then climbed a further 38,728 miles to reach 158,307 by January 2026. This is consistent with intensive motorway or fleet-style driving. High annual mileage accelerates wear on consumables and structural components, and the record reflects that reality through repeated tyre-related advisories across multiple test dates. Tyre wear has been a recurring theme throughout the vehicle's life. The January 2025 test flagged a nearside rear tyre worn close to the legal limit, the January 2024 test flagged the offside rear in the same condition, and the January 2026 failure caught the nearside front below the 1.6mm minimum. Failing on tyre tread across three consecutive test cycles suggests basic upkeep was not always proactive, though the defects were corrected each time. A buyer should inspect all four tyres for uneven wear patterns, particularly edge wear, which could point to tracking or suspension geometry issues beyond simple replacement. The front suspension deserves the closest physical inspection. The anti-roll bar ball joint was excessively worn enough to cause a failure in January 2026, and both front shock absorbers are misting oil. Misting indicates the seals are beginning to degrade, though it has not yet progressed to a full fluid leak. A buyer should have a technician check the front struts, lower wishbone bushes, and drop links for play, and verify whether the Lambda reading issue points to a deteriorating catalytic converter or oxygen sensor, as that fault can recur under sustained high-speed driving conditions typical of this vehicle's usage profile.