Dont drop bonnet from high, use slov closing. High droping causes cracks on light.

1 hour ago, MarkusDelRey said:

Dont drop bonnet from high, use slov closing. High droping causes cracks on light.

Really….? 🤔

6 hours ago, MarkusDelRey said:

Dont drop bonnet from high, use slov closing. High droping causes cracks on light.

Surely this is a design fault then?

7 hours ago, MarkusDelRey said:

Dont drop bonnet from high, use slov closing. High droping causes cracks on light.

57 minutes ago, Brucey24 said:

Surely this is a design fault then?

If the headlamps are that fragile then they haven't been designed to meet the conditions in the real world such as potholes and speed bumps.

This was exactly what I was told. No warranty just had to pay for a new unit.

Just noticed my nearside headlight is cracked too. Trying to find other people with the same problem before I report to the skoda dealer

Have you got a picture of the fault on your car Paul?

21 hours ago, paulphillips said:

Just noticed my nearside headlight is cracked too. Trying to find other people with the same problem before I report to the skoda dealer

Hopefully if we can get enough people coming forward with the same evidence then we will be more likely to have a chance of claiming under warrenty

***UPDATE***

Apologies for the delay, things have been progressing but I wanted to wait until their conclusion before posting. Also, I didn’t want to tempt fate!

The good news is that the Dealership (DM Keith, Wakefield) have replaced BOTH headlights under warranty.

This has taken some time (the car was taken in for initial assessment last September), but in the end it was well worth the wait.

Hopefully this will help others with their claims, as it should be a matter of record with Skoda UK.

Thanks for your update, I am unfortunately having to contact the Motor Ombudsman for the same issue!

Despite another user on this thread sending me details of it being fixed under warranty and finding out that Skoda actually completely changed this part (no doubt because they found a weakness), Mitchell Skoda in Chester are unwilling to accept that this is a Warranty issue 🤷🏻‍♂️!

Skoda UK have offered to pay 50% but Mitchell Skoda won’t match that and are still adamant that there are no other reported cases, stating that even if there were each garage works to a different standard, I quote their warranty manager: “We have contacted the Skoda technical department who agree with our findings and have confirmed that there are no known issues with this model. It would not be appropriate for us to comment on any other vehicles or dealership decisions”.

Anyway if anyone else has any pictures of this fault on their Octavia headlights, could you please add them on here, to strengthen my case and anyone else’s who may face the same issue with Skoda.

I’ll update once I hear back from the Ombudsman, although I imagine that may take some time.

3 hours ago, Brucey24 said:

Thanks for your update, I am unfortunately having to contact the Motor Ombudsman for the same issue!

Despite another user on this thread sending me details of it being fixed under warranty and finding out that Skoda actually completely changed this part (no doubt because they found a weakness), Mitchell Skoda in Chester are unwilling to accept that this is a Warranty issue 🤷🏻‍♂️!

Skoda UK have offered to pay 50% but Mitchell Skoda won’t match that and are still adamant that there are no other reported cases, stating that even if there were each garage works to a different standard, I quote their warranty manager: “We have contacted the Skoda technical department who agree with our findings and have confirmed that there are no known issues with this model. It would not be appropriate for us to comment on any other vehicles or dealership decisions”.

Anyway if anyone else has any pictures of this fault on their Octavia headlights, could you please add them on here, to strengthen my case and anyone else’s who may face the same issue with Skoda.

I’ll update once I hear back from the Ombudsman, although I imagine that may take some time.

Sorry to hear about that. Surely if people have had them replaced under warranty, then Skoda UK have it on record?

This is why it would be really helpful if everyone with the same problem could post a photo here. Keep us informed of any updates

11 hours ago, chur1996 said:

Sorry to hear about that. Surely if people have had them replaced under warranty, then Skoda UK have it on record?

Thanks, just a long wait now to see if the Ombudsman feel that it’s n unfair decision.

Did you end up contacting Skoda Uk and if so did they provide you with a case reference number? Also was it the branch or Skoda UK that ended up authorising the Warranty claim?

On 08/02/2026 at 10:48, Brucey24 said:

Thanks, just a long wait now to see if the Ombudsman feel that it’s n unfair decision.

Did you end up contacting Skoda Uk and if so did they provide you with a case reference number? Also was it the branch or Skoda UK that ended up authorising the Warranty claim?

No, never contacted Skoda UK as the Dealer sorted it, I believe they spoke with Skoda UK and it was agreed between them.

Same problem here also! mines a vrs on a 23plate. Noticed that my headlight was starting to condensate at the start of winter, only noticed the crack when I topped up my washer fluid. Took to my local dealer under warranty, but has since been rejected. Their respose was the headlight has already been damaged!

I've contacted Skoda UK on Twitter/X thismorning to see what they have to say about it. Aftering reading the other posts on here I dont hold much hope for a easy outcome, but will give it ago. Seems like such an obvious defect using poor quality thin plastic on the upper housing and continuous pressure and vibrations caused by the bonnet....very frustrating to be disregarded like this as valued customers and to be made out like you've caused the damage!!

1 hour ago, MagnoStorm said:

Same problem here also! mines a vrs on a 23plate. Noticed that my headlight was starting to condensate at the start of winter, only noticed the crack when I topped up my washer fluid. Took to my local dealer under warranty, but has since been rejected. Their respose was the headlight has already been damaged!

I've contacted Skoda UK on Twitter/X thismorning to see what they have to say about it. Aftering reading the other posts on here I dont hold much hope for a easy outcome, but will give it ago. Seems like such an obvious defect using poor quality thin plastic on the upper housing and continuous pressure and vibrations caused by the bonnet....very frustrating to be disregarded like this as valued customers and to be made out like you've caused the damage!!

Good luck with Skoda UK, although I was advised by them that they couldn’t override the decision made by the branch.

I’ve now submitted my complaint to the motor Ombudsman and I’m awaiting them to allocate my case. Once I’ve got any updates I’ll let you know

Mine is going into main dealer ( sinclair skoda swansea) for an inspection on 6th March. Maybe it would be wise of me to contact skoda uk before it goes in then?

32 minutes ago, paulphillips said:

Mine is going into main dealer ( sinclair skoda swansea) for an inspection on 6th March. Maybe it would be wise of me to contact skoda uk before it goes in then?

I imagine they’ll tell you to go to your local dealership anyway so that the technicians can make a determination. It appears that some dealerships are willing to accept that it’s a Warranty issue and others are not. I would make a point of showing them this thread and the images available on it when you take it in though, as there wasn’t as much information available when I took mine to the dealership. You can also use Chur1996, the author of this tread as a reference point as he has managed to get his sorted under Warranty 👍🏼

On 20/02/2026 at 12:53, MagnoStorm said:

Same problem here also! mines a vrs on a 23plate. Noticed that my headlight was starting to condensate at the start of winter, only noticed the crack when I topped up my washer fluid. Took to my local dealer under warranty, but has since been rejected. Their respose was the headlight has already been damaged!

I've contacted Skoda UK on Twitter/X thismorning to see what they have to say about it. Aftering reading the other posts on here I dont hold much hope for a easy outcome, but will give it ago. Seems like such an obvious defect using poor quality thin plastic on the upper housing and continuous pressure and vibrations caused by the bonnet....very frustrating to be disregarded like this as valued customers and to be made out like you've caused the damage!!

Those cracks are exactly the same as mine, and they were replaced under warranty 👍🏻

UPDATE

Just had my car back from sinclair skoda swansea, they are refusing to to replace the headlight under warrenty.

Now I've got to go through it all again with skoda uk. I have also emailed watchdog telling them of our shared problem. Not holding out much hope but you never know

20 minutes ago, paulphillips said:

UPDATE

Just had my car back from sinclair skoda swansea, they are refusing to to replace the headlight under warrenty.

Now I've got to go through it all again with skoda uk. I have also emailed watchdog telling them of our shared problem. Not holding out much hope but you never know

Annoying. Feel free to use my case as an example

Same exact issue in my 2023 Octavia. Here in Finland Skoda was aware of the issue and covered 90% of expenses even when my car is already out of warranty.