Hello, long time reader first time poster here!

I've had my mk3 Skoda Octavia estate (2017, 2L diesel, 6 speed manual, SE L, 94,000 miles) for about 1.5 years now and have had a continuous problem with engine vibration at 2000-2100 RPM. Annoyingly this is 70 mph in 6th gear so hard to avoid.

The vibration comes through the steering wheel and pedals and feels more like a buzz, kind of like driving an electric toothbrush. It is completely smooth above and below these RPMs (65 or 76 mph in 6th gear). The car is completely smooth if i put it in neutral at 70 mph so it isn't the wheels (more below).

I've done a number of things to try and fix it including: 2 new alloy wheels (the front ones were buckled), all 4 wheels balancing, 4 wheel alignment - there was an improvement when the buckled wheels were changed but not to the engine vibration. Garage has checked the suspension and CV joints and all were fine. I asked the garage to replace all 4 (or 3?) engine mounts - this did make a big difference which furthered my suspicions that it was the engine/drive train. I also added some sound deadening which also helped, presumably by absorbing a lot of the vibration throughout the body work.

The vibration still persists, its not bad enough for a garage to notice on a test drive (I have been to several) but its really obvious if you drive for >1 hour on the motorway which was the whole reason I bought the car! I really like everything else about the car but this makes me want to get rid of it. Surely this can't be a feature of all Octavia 2L diesels otherwise no one would have keep them for so long? I'm out of ideas, has anyone else experienced this?

Barney

Do you get the vibration when stationary and revving the engine to 2000-2100 rpm?

What about 2000 rpm in other gears?

If no, then more likely final drive than engine.

Same if no vibration in neutral at 2100 rpm as asked above.

Maybe it's just how buzzy the diesel is.

3 hours ago, BlueWagon said:

Maybe it's just how buzzy the diesel is.

This is my worry 😞

I've tried at stationary and in other gears. No vibration at stationary and nothing worthy of note in the other gears either. Is it possible to wear out 1 gear? The car doesn't normally drive at that RPM, if you're doing 50-60mph in 5th or 6th the rpm is lower, with the lower gears you normally just pass over 2-2100 RPM. Maybe the previous owner just sat at 70 mph for 80,000 miles in 6th?

It's very possible to wear out a single gear but it's generally lower down the box due to more frequent changes.

I have the same combo 2017 2.0 6 speed manual estate. Generally if I get any vibration it is because the car is in too low a gear for the rpm.

Could be something to do with the steering rack, the Mrs occasionally has random vibrations in her Hyundai at motorway speed but in her case she has one of the infamous damaged star bushes for the electric power steering motor, but I think the Octavia is good old hydraulic.

Is there part of a steering rack that absorbs vibration? The steering all seems fine otherwise.

On 29/09/2025 at 19:55, Barney95 said:

(the front ones were buckled),

Mmmm...maybe a big hit there once in the past.

16 hours ago, Barney95 said:

I've tried at stationary and in other gears. No vibration at stationary and nothing worthy of note in the other gears either.

Mmmm...points to the driveshaft maybe...

I'd say with a buckled wheels a bent driveshaft may be the cause

5 hours ago, CianKT said:

It's very possible to wear out a single gear but it's generally lower down the box due to more frequent changes.

I have the same combo 2017 2.0 6 speed manual estate. Generally if I get any vibration it is because the car is in too low a gear for the rpm.

Could be something to do with the steering rack, the Mrs occasionally has random vibrations in her Hyundai at motorway speed but in her case she has one of the infamous damaged star bushes for the electric power steering motor, but I think the Octavia is good old hydraulic.

It's electric steering.

2 hours ago, BlueWagon said:

I'd say with a buckled wheels a bent driveshaft may be the cause

It's going to the garage on Thursday to have the drivers side lock motor replaced, I've asked them to check the driveshaft for any buckles or wear. We'll see if they find anything 🤞.

9 hours ago, Barney95 said:

I've asked them to check the driveshaft for any buckles

I suspect it will be a very minor bend, not likely visible to naked eye.

It may show up in a balancing process but not likely to be cost effective.

Do you know how the wheels got buckled?

I know you're all dying to hear how this is progressing...

Garage looked at the drive shaft, nothing visibly wrong as expected . I test drove 2 1.4 TSI octavias today and they also have the same sort of vibration. I think it's just engines... I'm not going to replace the drive shafts as its almost certainly not that.

I've mostly fixed the problem with some £5 Wilson vibration absorption tennis handle tape, placed on the "driving for 5 hours down the M6" position of the steering wheel. I realised my last car may have felt smoother as the whole wheel was wrapped in the stuff as the plastic in the wheel had perished.

Does the mk3 octavia have a steering wheel vibration dampner? If it does i might swap it out as it just might be worn, or maybe fit an aftermarket one?

On 12/10/2025 at 04:57, Barney95 said:

I test drove 2 1.4 TSI octavias today and they also have the same sort of vibration. I think it's just engines...

I've got a 1.4TSI and it has no vibration at all.

Interesting to hear 2 others do.

Do you know how your front wheels got buckled?

I'd say that and the vibration is related. Maybe rear wheels also buckled.

On 12/10/2025 at 04:57, Barney95 said:

nothing visibly wrong as expected

It probably won't be visible. More of a minute bend and balance problem. Maybe a straight edge would show it up.

But I wouldn't replace unless the CV boots or wheel bearings are on the way out as well.

Edited 14 October, 202514 Oct by BlueWagon