Hi everyone,

I’m currently waiting for my 2021 Octavia RS (2.0 TSI DSG) to arrive, and I’ve been reading quite a lot about the early Mk4 Octavias and their notorious software and electrical issues.

Most of the discussions I’ve found are from 2020–2023, when people were reporting infotainment crashes, Travel Assist errors, random warning messages, connectivity problems, and various other glitches.

I’m curious how things stand in 2026, now that these cars are 5–6 years old and have presumably received multiple software updates and, in some cases, hardware replacements.

Welcome to the forums.

My Sept-2020 registered 1.5TSi SEL First Edition (now at 80k miles) is absolutely fine, and has been for three or four years. Can't remember when I last had a software glitch.

Assuming the VRS you're waiting for has had ALL the s/ware updates due then it should be OK too.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do mine.

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by SteveTheElder

If the software is up to date - and the battery in good health - both of which you can check easily without the dealer having to do anything - then you'll be fine. I'm on 1941, which has been fine for about 4 years. They're decent cars!

@Kojne Welcome to the forum. What country are you in? Does the car you are getting have a comprehensive service history? How many km has it done? Has the DSG had an oil and filter change? Has the VAQ diff been serviced, maybe twice by now?

39 minutes ago, Evolution13 said:

@Kojne Welcome to the forum. What country are you in? Does the car you are getting have a comprehensive service history? How many km has it done? Has the DSG had an oil and filter change? Has the VAQ diff been serviced, maybe twice by now?

Hi, im in Lithuania, but the car is from Czechia. As far as i know it was a leased car for a bank as a company car. It has 80k km. Before buying it had DEKRA check, but no specific information regarding DSG or VAQ servicing. It does have a NHCAR sticker on the back and on the number plate frame and NHCAR as i've checked is an authorized skoda dealer and service provider in Prague so my hopes are that this car was serviced properly. Nothing more specific about servicing apart that it has electronic service history.

1 hour ago, inspectorman said:

If the software is up to date - and the battery in good health - both of which you can check easily without the dealer having to do anything - then you'll be fine. I'm on 1941, which has been fine for about 4 years. They're decent cars!

I do not know what software it is on, but thats the first thing i am checking. I've lurked around the forum and seen that it is possible to update it yourself, but i hope i wont have to, pretty scared of ruining something. My plans are soon after getting it, going to an authorized skoda service and doing a overall check.

Really hope everything will be okay, since i absolutely love how the car looks.

Connectivity issues are still there. Not always it is the car to blame, and when it is, pulling the fuse helps. But on Skoda's side it is still bad. The rest should be ok if car was taken care of.

Some are good apparently

Mine was not.

Secondhand car dealer “full Skoda service history”

Nothing on the digital “Erwin”system.

Battery checked by AA ok but failed /replaced by main dealer after 300 miles.

Plus DSG oil change as insurance (main dealer said filter good “for life “ (Maybe due to inaccessibility issues (around PHEV)).

Chiller unit discovered compromised after third diagnostic attempt at main dealer (.£1463 quoted).

The infotainment/connectivity was a nightmare - so main dealer upgraded to “1914” (?) so that is recognised as ok (now).

In my opinion I wouldn’t recommend an early second hand Octavia 80K PHEV Mk iV to my worst enemy however cool they look (and they do).

The inaccessibility due to cramped bonnet space, the vulnerability of the fragile tech associated with that sophisticated simply (too) clever (by half) engineering and as second hand the more than likely lack of any warranty makes such a purchase a money pit.

Take away the PHEV aspect giving more engine bay accessibility, less fragile

control system also the problemic “Covid year(s) issues the MkiV is probably a worthy successor to its previous iterations.