My beloved MK3 estate got rear ended and totalled so now I have to find something new. my gut says get the MK4. it's newer and shinier but then I'm reading a lot about reliability issues and trying to get my head around them and if they've been resolved.

 

It'll be our only vehicle so we need it to be reliable.

I guess three questions
Are there variants to avoid?
Are the plug in hybrids reliable?
Are the infotainment problems mostly resolved?

I'm going to continue reading the forums here but any opinions are welcome.

4 minutes ago, otf said:

Are the plug in hybrids reliable?

I had 15+ issues with the car which required workshops to fix, but only one was associated with the car being hybrid (coolant leak from HV circuit). So I'd say yes, reliable.

For the rest, let others comment, I am too biased against these cars and dealerships selling them. In theory, more recent cars (2023 onwards) with all updates and fixes applied should be great. But browse this forums and you see people are still struggling. Not even mentioning 2020 and 2021 cars - a total disaster.

Based on my several times a day browsing the Octavia 3 and 4 forums, personally I'd look for a FL Mark 3 first.

We got a 2021 mk4 hybrid estate earlier in the summer and it has been great. It went to the dealer for some software updates, which they did under warrantly because of occasional infotainment system restarts, but no other issues. If I were getting another, I would ensure that there is something left on the manufacturer's warranty to get any potential issues sorted out. From looking around before settling on the Octavia, most of the alternatives had similar issues, particularly with software. Looking on the forums can make it look like they are disasters on wheels, but people don't usually come to the forums to say that their cars are fine!

I've got a 21 plate SEL First Edition, and it's great. I have no issues with it now.

 

However, I had plenty of issues with it in the first year of ownership. The issues were all related to software - infotainment system, climatronic, telematics module, and probably a few others. Once the dealer had got all of these upgraded to the required, bug-free versions the car has been rock-solid - exactly the same as my Mk2 and Mk3 Octavias were.

 

The problem is Skoda UK seem to have not dealt with the issues at a dealer level. I still see people coming onto the forum having brought a used Octavia that hasn't received the required updates. They go into a dealer, and go through the same process of "we need to investigate", "we need an answer from Skoda Technical", etc, etc. The wheel keeps being re-invented.

 

Some issues such as the sync issue with the climatronic hasn't ever been acknowledged as an official problem, so there's no TPI for it. This is despite the newer firmware addressing the issue. So someone, somewhere realised it was an issue and fixed the firmware! Some dealers are even telling customers "the climate sync feature is supposed to work like that". Unfortunately many dealers simply attach the vehicle to their computer to see if there is any updates. If the "computer says no" that's the answer, and they seem reluctant to investigate. The situation is most dealers have probably seen many early Mk4 vehicles with the same issues recurring time and time again. But they seem not to be raising the matter with Skoda.

 

In reality, Skoda UK need to produce a baseline of software versions that are known to be problem free. They should be instructing dealers to apply those updates before raising cases with technical. But the fact it hasn't happened by now suggests it never will, which is a shame because the Mk4 is a great car. I've had no issues at all with my car in over a year.

 

If I were looking to buy a used Mk4 it wouldn't put me off. I would however be insisting that the firmware is all updated or walk away.

I've had my '73 plate vRS TSI for 1 year and 15k miles this week, and other that a one off Check engine light that went off after a few days it's been flawless.  None issues other people have been seeing.

Edited 23 October, 20241 yr by Neily03

51 minutes ago, JamesK said:

 I would however be insisting that the firmware is all updated or walk away.

But if ODIS says there's no updates then the dealer will say it's up-to-date even if the car has known issues (like the climatronic sync issue you mention).

 

This is what puts me off moving to a Mk4 - getting the firmware (and in a few cases on older Mk4's hardware) on several modules updated isn't as simple as it should be because Skoda don't acknowledge all the issues.

Edited 23 October, 20241 yr by PetrolDave

I've had 99.8% perfectly reliable car, the only issue I had was the infotainment system which kept freezing and restarting at random.

 

That was resolved by installing 1941 software and was fine until a couple of updates arrived but as I had an issue with the virtual pedal, they updated all of the software and it was all good until they replaced a module and apparently did the wrong flashing on it, it has been absolutely perfect since.

 

I've had no mechanical or engine issues whatsoever the performance of the car is spot on.

 

But if you were to ask me would I have another one, then with a heavy heart I'd say no.

 

Because I'm now very much solo and I don't need an Octavia sized car anymore. I need something VW Golf sized (Fabia) but they don't do anything RS in that so I'll be moving on.

 

If you are a family man and you need a larger car for kids and dogs, then I'd suggest that you look for a MY23 car NOT a First Edition one.

 

If you're doing loads of miles then consider a diesel rather than the hybrid as there do seem to be issues with them, the petrol version is excellent and on a good run I can achieve 42-45 mpg with it on runs to Nottinghamshire or West Somerset, South Coast.

2 hours ago, PetrolDave said:

But if ODIS says there's no updates then the dealer will say it's up-to-date even if the car has known issues (like the climatronic sync issue you mention).

 

This is what puts me off moving to a Mk4 - getting the firmware (and in a few cases on older Mk4's hardware) on several modules updated isn't as simple as it should be because Skoda don't acknowledge all the issues.

During my issues I was loaned a brand new 72 plate Octavia. That had no issues at all so I think by mid-2022 the major software issues were already resolved by the factory. It's just a shame these updates were not pushed proactively to vehicles already built.

 

Maybe it needs some of us on the forum to scan our cars and log the versions of the units that we know are working without a problem. Unfortunately I don't have any tools to scan the car or I'd offer to provide the firmware versions my car is running on.

 

If you are looking at an early Mk4 I don't think it's an unreasonable request to ask a dealer to ensure the firmware versions of problematic models are at a minimum version as part of the deal. If they refuse, then walk away. If they oblige then it's an easy task for them to provide a written document to prove the modules are at the versions they need to be. If it makes the difference between a sale and a 'no sale' I'd think most dealers would find a way to get it done.

 

It's a shame it does effectively come down to this, as people are starting to avoid the earlier cars. I know if I were looking to buy anothe early / first edition Mk4 I'd be insisting the firmware be updated. As others have commented the vehicle mechanically is fine. Good engines, comfortable, economical. All of my issues have been software related - and most other people in this forum too.

"If you are looking at an early Mk4 I don't think it's an unreasonable request to ask a dealer to ensure the firmware versions of problematic models are at a minimum version as part of the deal. If they refuse, then walk away. If they oblige then it's an easy task for them to provide a written document to prove the modules are at the versions they need to be. If it makes the difference between a sale and a 'no sale' I'd think most dealers would find a way to get it done.

 

It's a shame it does effectively come down to this, as people are starting to avoid the earlier cars. I know if I were looking to buy anothe early / first edition Mk4 I'd be insisting the firmware be updated. As others have commented the vehicle mechanically is fine. Good engines, comfortable, economical. All of my issues have been software related - and most other people in this forum too."

 

Absolutely this. I'd even get the VIN and run it through ERWIN as well to see if any outstanding actions are required. It's taken four years and six visits to kill all of the software irritations so far. It would have been three but I couldn't face schlepping up to the dealer at the three year point for the relentless upselling and did the oil and filters myself. Had they been on top of their TPIs I would have been contacted before that.. ""please inform customers immediately/urgently (Bolded and underlined) the customers with the vehicles affected". Fat chance.

 

But - it is a big, comfortable, economical drive with a high spec interior (SEL trim) and it does do what I wanted it to do. So have a chat with the dealer to see if he has any clue about what the problems were, how the dealership coped, and what state the possible purchase is in with regard to those updates. You should be able to work out pretty quickly if you're dealing with a 24 carat bullsh*tter or a genuine guy.

20 hours ago, JamesK said:

If you are looking at an early Mk4 I don't think it's an unreasonable request to ask a dealer to ensure the firmware versions of problematic models are at a minimum version as part of the deal.

The problem is, how one would know that? All we can see is SW for infotainment. They could say they flashed everything that was needed, and there's no way for us to check if they did. Also, there are many updates which are not shown as outstanding for the car, however they are put into TPIs or otherwise communicated to technicians when car comes with a problem. So dealer may be sincerely sure that all was done, while problems are yet to come.

I bought at 71 plate PHEV in February.  The dealer told me that all software was up to date, but I had some infotainment issues and found I was on old software.  I insisted that they update to version 1941 which they did while I waited.

 

No problems now.  Most mileage is local on electric with longer journeys on hybrid.

 

If you get one insist that the infotainment software is at 1941 or later before delivery.