I’ve owned Octavias since the last century. Sadly this will be my last. The cars are riddled with unfixable bugs, e.g. hill start error message, infotainment faults.

In addition my car has now cost me near on £1000 in the last 3 months for a particulate matter sensor and an exhaust flap held open error. Both are emissions related rubbish in a car (24k) out of warranty but under 4 years old. Octavias of my past were bombproof, utterly reliable requiring nothing more than routine services. The Mk 4 is too clever imho.

You mention a particulate sensor so I assume you have a TDI; 24k miles doesn’t sound much in four years for a diesel. Have your previous ones been diesel or your usage changed?

 

In contrast, my 4yo 1.5 TSI has given 51k miles of reliable motoring (other than early s/w issues).

My Octy mechanically has been spot on, it has done just under 10k miles now. The only thing that's let it down is the software/firmware.

I've own(ed) 2 Octavias, a 1.4 litre Mk3 wagon and Mk4 RS wagon. The first one was no trouble until I had it serviced by the local Skoda dealer. Talk about useless.Developed a miss which had several (supposed)disgnosises.Needs new software,has a broken spark plug,needs a new throttle pedal and best of all it needs a new clutch (for a miss!) Went to several specialists. Much money was spent and eventually a new engine was fitted by a Sydney dealer.Thank god Skoda paid for most of it. Talking to several mechanics the most likely cause  was  a spark plug was over torqued at service and debris fell into the bore. Don't know exactly and can't prove it anyway.

            2nd one has been great. Couple of glitches with software but nothing like I read about cars in Europe and the UK. Our cars In Australia don't have internet connectivity or the SOS system. Probably lucky.

If you want a modern car you will have no choice but to accept faulty software etc.  All the manufactures are doing it.  Personally I disable as many automatic features as I can, and keep a Triumph Stag so occasionally I can drive my own car and not have a nerd behind a desk doing it for me.

Will agree strongly.

 

Had 2 mk1 Octavia, no faults, warranty work, upgrades needed etc.  Second one (1.8turbo auto L&K estate) went to father-in-law, did over 150k miles.

 

Had a mk2 L&K estate (2.0 FSI auto), faultless until we part exchanged it at 7 years old

 

These days people seem to have multiple faults, and dealers that cannot sort them.   

Reliability of Skoda Octavia mk3 and mk4, according to WhatCar:

 

Most reliable family car: Skoda Octavia mk3 petrol, with a 99.3% reliability rating.

 

Less reliable family car: Skoda Octavia mk4 is third, with a 80.3% reliability rating, after current VW Golf diesel and Seat Leon. 

 

Quote from the site, about Octavia mk4: „Issues with non-engine electrical systems, in particular sat-nav/infotainment, blighted the latest Octavia, accounting for 52% of all reported faults. Overall, 35% of cars had a problem; most could still be driven, but 52% were out of action for more than a week. Skoda stumped up for 97% of repairs, though”.

It does feel like a good idea to keep any modern car in a sound warranty - or perhaps with a trusted, current, independent mechanic at hand.

 

But across my two Octy ownerships I've had little to no issues and I'll definitely get another one if it fits my needs at the time.
I've really tempted fate now haven't I 🤦‍♂️

Have had loads of issues with mine including the car having to be towed back to a dealer. Less than 3 years old and under 65k miles. I’ve said before Skoda are the British Leyland of our time. So much so rather than save a considerable amount of BiK with a new Kodiaq I’m going to replace at the end of contract with a Toyota. Can’t wait. 

30 seconds on google later :

 

https://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/topic/219429-just-got-rid-of-my-20ltr-this-week/

 

Everything has its issues unfortunately.