Having had yet another thing go wrong on my Octavia, what is anyones opinion on the reliability of the MK I Octavia?

I'm finding it an expensive car, in terms of time out of the office and while most of the dealers are very good at finding the fault, it is getting frustrating. The car as a whole is pretty reliable, but there are so many minor things that go wrong with the car and everytime these get to the stage of needing to be fixed it takes a few days to get the parts :(

Is very frustrating as I am considering getting a newer car, and the MK II Octy was high on my lists however my experience with this one is leaving me a bit frustrated.

My car old RS had a very hard life! Of the 138k on the clock when I sold it at 32 month old, nearly 12k were track miles

So, other than services, what did I break?

2 x NSF wheel bearings

1 x NSF wishbone bush

1 x main cooling fan (led to overheating problems at the Ring as it had packed up)

1 x OSF wheel bearing

1 x engine @ 135k miles. The MAF had degraded, much like Scoob ones have been known to do

On the current diesel, I've had:

New suspension and clutch at 102,000 miles £1100, fitted

New discs at all round 38000 and 78000 miles £105

Three set of front and two sets of rear pads

So not too bad really for what is now a combined total of 250,000 miles

"Not great".

Has been the most expensive/lowest mileage car I've ever owned, and it's the only one that has actually broken down. It does have a lot going for it, but when the salesman told me it had "VW reliability" I kind of assumed he meant it in a good way...

Rob.

In 82k I had 1 clutch master cylinder fail , the switch on the clutch pedal failed causing the cruise to be temperamental and the catch on the arm rest cubby hole broke.

Rear pads were changed at 80k and other than that it was just scheduled servicing

I've done 53k miles from new...had coil pack go on me at around 40k miles and had the drivers seat base changed as it was squeeking over bumps...all done under warranty.

I have no rattles even though mine runs of 18'' alloys and lowered suspension.

I do have a problem with the electric windows in wet weather and the driver's side seat belt retractor sometimes sticks.

Apart from that it's been good.

I do think that my previous phase 1 Octavia was better built though......SLX TDi estate..again bought new.....35k in 2 years...nothing went wrong...even didn't rattle after Someone rear ended us on the M4!

Absolutely fine.5 years old, 58k.

Have had:

- Wiper motor, linkage and relay.

- Sticking gear box (all like that apparantly)

- Radio non working 3 times

- Arb squeaks 2 times

- Leaking rear wiper 2 or 3 times

- Broken seat base.

- Trim faults

- Rattling noise caused by handbrake

- Master clutch cyl failed (25k after reporting gear stickyness and now that has gone too when this was replaced)

- Random squeek from front end when i shut doors or boot (garage can't find)

- Headlight adjuster motor failed

- lights only worked on one side of car.

- Wiper linkage broke again.

- CD changer went a bit mad

- Squeaky window when lowered raised (Dealer said nothing there so i live with it)

- Loads of annoying rattles from the doors, most of which were fixed at last service.

- Annoying steering wheel wobble, which was down to ballance but that a dealer said didn't exist, and they missed on multiple occasions. Eventually a good tyre place found and sorted it.

I'm sure there are a few more that I have forgotten, and then to add to this I have had a very poor dealer telling me they are all like that for a couple of things and that told me to stop wasting their time when i asked them to look at something a second time. The same dealer also forgot to change brake fluid at the 40k service and failed to spot a broken part at the same service that a second dealer pointed out without me mentioning it.

I have to say that I have found a couple of much better dealers recently, but it doesn't fill me with confidence. The car it is totally standard and always been serviced at the main dealers.

As I found out yesterday, if you aren't happy with the sevice you are getting - talk directly to the dealer principal. Don't bother with anyone in between, they can't do anything about it whereas the DP has the power.

Was thinking of complaining about the master cylinder since i figure it will have caused more wear to the clutch and possibly damaged the gear box. I bought it to the attention of a dealer, who then said no sir they are all like that.

I mean I am glad it is better now, and that it is fixed, but I have put about 25k on a car with a faulty clutch, which is unacceptable in my opinion.

Octavia 4x4 Registered Nov 2001

Mileage 71,000 miles. Car is standard no chips or mods

Faults:

Rear wheel alignemnt - dealer modified at 9,600 + 2 replacement tyres under warranty

Central exhaust bracket welded up at 26000

ARBs replaced and drop links replaced twice, once under warranty

Rear springs (both broke) at 58000 outside warranty

NS Rear wheel bearing at 66000

OS front wheel bearing needs replacement at 71000 awaiting part

Coil packs replaced at 48,000

Rear shock absorber mountings on rear hubs, threads failed (a known fault) - one insert, one helicoil to restore integrity

Gear box oil seal for prop shaft to rear axle replaced under warranty

Rear shock absorbers replaced at 66000

Rear discs and pads most recent change at 60,000

Front discs and pads at 66000

Original exhaust

Dealer emphatic that timining belt needs changing at 80000 and not before

Overall impression is car is fun to drive on Scottish A and B roads but it has spent to many days and hours at the dealer and has cost too much in replacement components and dealer time. Warranty repairs must have put Skoda well into the red

Now averse to another Skoda 4x4 or any car with VW components

Octavia 4x4 Registered Nov 2001

Mileage 71' date='000 miles. Car is standard no chips or mods

Faults:

Rear wheel alignemnt - dealer modified at 9,600 + 2 replacement tyres under warranty

Central exhaust bracket welded up at 26000

ARBs replaced and drop links replaced twice, once under warranty

Rear springs (both broke) at 58000 outside warranty

NS Rear wheel bearing at 66000

OS front wheel bearing needs replacement at 71000 awaiting part

Coil packs replaced at 48,000

Rear shock absorber mountings on rear hubs, threads failed (a known fault) - one insert, one helicoil to restore integrity

Gear box oil seal for prop shaft to rear axle replaced under warranty

Rear shock absorbers replaced at 66000

Rear discs and pads most recent change at 60,000

Front discs and pads at 66000

Original exhaust

Dealer emphatic that timining belt needs changing at 80000 and not before

Overall impression is car is fun to drive on Scottish A and B roads but it has spent to many days and hours at the dealer and has cost too much in replacement components and dealer time. Warranty repairs must have put Skoda well into the red

Now averse to another Skoda 4x4 or any car with VW components[/quote']

5 years and 71,000 miles don't think I'd be too unhappy at that. Once bought a Lada just for a chuckabout estate, and it had more and worse in the space of six months. It wasn't a one off either, every time the car went back to dealer we'd meet the same people also returning, made a couple of friends:rofl:

Previous to buying the Octavia 4x4 I had a Nissan Primera and previous to that a Toyota Carina 2, both automatics which gave me less hassle and only required the usual replacements such as tyres, brake discs, pads, exhausts, spark plugs etc.

No other component problems

This is the bench mark others have to compete with and so far my limited one car purchase from VW group has been a relative disaster - but more fun to drive

Reading above I seem to have been quite lucky with my 4x4 Octy.

I bought it at 19k and now has 29k on it and it hasnt missed a beat (even though Ive modified it in every area since buying it 9 months ago).

It doesnt rattle or creak and seems pretty bullit proof so far.

Heres hoping the next 10k miles are just as uneventful! :P

Lee

My 1.6 is 7 years old/74k miles. Apart from routine service items, the only faults have been an engine sensor early on and a new set of HT leads to cure a misfire. A the moment it has a rattle from the rear end which is probably the exhaust (still the original) and the ashtray won't close. So not too bad.

AndyC

My 2002 4X4. Remapped at 6900 miles - now only 18300 miles.

Coil packs - no failures but replaced under warranty with a later modified version.

Windscreen wiper linkage - replaced under warranty when circlip fell off.

Clutch master cylinder - pedal sticking in cold weather. Replaced under warranty with a later modified version.

Haldex ECU - no problems apparent when driving but VAG-COM check revealed checksum error. Replaced under warranty with a later modified version.

N75 valve - replaced at my expense out of warranty.

No other faults, rattles, niggles etc.

2003 vRS

Bought Aug 2004 - 12500 miles

Now (June 06)- 41850 miles

Faults

1) One Coil pack - all 4 changed by dealer under warrenty

2) 15 inch stress fracture in windscreen - replaced under warrenty

3) .............................eeerm, sorry thats it.

So far it is comparable with my Primera GT, but quicker (except round corners :( )

I'm starting to worry now!

I had a steamed up front indicator at 4 weeks old - replaced under warranty - and a squeak in the dash fixed at the same time.

Apart from that, no problems at all except ones caused by me doing mods - pipes coming off, that sort of thing. I've had it remapped for about 9 months now and covered 27,500 miles in two years.

My warranty expired yesterday :eek:

vRS bought new September 2004. Remapped and modded as in my sig. Just notched up 20000 miles last week.

1. CD changer faulty - changed under warranty

2. Cracked sump - I hit a lump of metal some stupid sod had left in the road

..........................that's it :thumbup:

Oh yeah I forgot abou the steamed up indicators and headlights which were 'normal' according to the poor dealer, and fixed by the repalcement dealer.

That was the final straw that made me switch dealers.

First Octy vRS on a 51 plate. Bought with 6k miles sold it with c.24k miles - Not a sausage apart from 1 x service.

Second Octy vRS on an 03 plate. Bought with 5k miles currently with 42k miles - 2 x routine services a set of tyres and had 1 x warranty claim on the rear hatch and the rear washer pipe came loose which I fixed with superglue.

That's it..... Most reliable cars I've ever owned and that's for sure.

octavia 4x4 august 2001

owned since february 2004 bought with about 90k now got 109k

gearbox blewup

clutch went

clutch mastercylinder went

OSF wheel bearing went, either its gone again or the other side needs doing :(

exhaust brackets breaking

ESP sensor broken

coil packs

switch on brake pedal failed

steering wheel starting to come apart(fake leather starting to come un stitched)

rear damper went(might have been down to an accident i had but reason not confirmed)

rear wiper water pipe came off and soaked my boot

think thats it.

been probably the most unreliable car in general, had more fun cars to drive but definitly the most capable fastest car i have owned.

P.S. its slightly modified.

1.4 16valve. Brought new in March 2002.

All 4 coil packs have been changed.

It shakes like a drug addict who hasn't had a fix for 3 days when it's idleing.

Drivers side speaker works when it feels like.

It's only done 34.000 miles.

Not really that impressed. My grandparents had a Volvo 850 2.5 litre, L reg that drove better than mine when it had 120.000 miles on the clock and 10 years of motoring.

Engine still shifted like new.

I'll be surprised if mine makes it to 80.000 without an engine rebuild.

Well I suppose you get what you pay for.

Brand new Mk1 Octavia vRS on an 06 plate. So far since March, I've covered 3500 miles. Other than a few rattles, singing brakes when reversing and a crappy stereo, it seems fine. I'll get the rattles sorted when it goes in for its first service hopefully, although I need to find a decent dealer near Scarborough.

Not sure I'd consider rattles are in the same group as reliability though. Annoying, but the car still gets you there.

03 Octavia vRS, approx 40K

1: Seat covers replaced

2: Some aircon Switch replaced

3: Nosiey ARB bushes

4: Dampers replaced

5: Various creaks and rattles around car ( I reckon its Irish roads)

6: Gearbox and clutch replaced after complete failure! ( at only 37K)

7: New maf

8: leaking rear wash wipe (VAG generic though as my dads Golf estate suffered the same)

9: radiator mounts kncakered

so all in all not a very relaible car imho, I do like it it but I wont be tempted into the new one :( in all my years of driving its the first gearbox i ve lost and I ve only ever replaced one clutch before...

edited to add other problems id forgotten! :(

Pole here

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/octavia/mk-i-octavia-reliability/55443/