Known APK problem

Škoda Octavia III: brakes

On the Škoda Octavia III the APK inspector finds brakes problems 90% more often than on cars of the same age: at 5–6 years 3.4%, against about 1.8% nationally.

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

What is it?

Worn or rusted brake discs and pads, or uneven braking.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Ask the seller: When were the brake discs and pads last replaced?

By age

Share of inspected Škoda Octavia IIIs with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.

Age	Type	Octavia III	95%-CI	National	Difference	n
5 – 6 years	A	0.5%	0.4 – 0.9%	0.7%	0.7×	3,463
5 – 6 years	B	1.4%	1.0 – 1.8%	1.2%	1.2×	3,463
5 – 6 years	C	3.4%	2.9 – 4.1%	1.8%	1.9×	3,463
7 – 8 years	A	0.9%	0.7 – 1.1%	1.3%	0.7×	7,719
7 – 8 years	B	1.2%	1.0 – 1.5%	1.5%	0.8×	7,719
7 – 8 years	C	3.1%	2.7 – 3.5%	2.6%	1.2×	7,719
9 – 10 years	A	1.7%	1.4 – 2.0%	1.9%	0.9×	6,180
9 – 10 years	B	1.1%	0.8 – 1.4%	1.6%	0.7×	6,180
9 – 10 years	C	3.7%	3.2 – 4.2%	2.8%	1.3×	6,180
11 – 12 years	A	2.5%	2.2 – 2.9%	2.8%	0.9×	6,672
11 – 12 years	B	1.4%	1.1 – 1.7%	1.7%	0.8×	6,672
11 – 12 years	C	3.3%	2.9 – 3.8%	2.8%	1.2×	6,672

A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.

Comparable cars at 5–6 years

Model	Brakes	Vs. national
Škoda Octavia III	3.4%	1.9×
Tesla Model 3	0.7%	0.9×
Volvo V40 II	0.3%	0.4×
Volvo V60 II / S60 III	0.2%	0.3×
Volkswagen Passat B8	0.8%	1.1×
Škoda Superb II	0.5%	0.6×

Looking at a Škoda Octavia III? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Škoda Octavia IIIs of the same age.

All weak spots of the Škoda Octavia III · Brakes: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the Škoda Octavia III often have brakes problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 5–6 years the inspector found a brakes defect on 3.4% of inspected Škoda Octavia IIIs, against about 1.8% of all cars of the same age (1.9×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the brakes on a used Škoda Octavia III?

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.

Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know