Skoda Fabia common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Skoda Fabia at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 236,051 UK MOT tests of the Skoda Fabia in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn): recorded on 3.7% of tests of 2017–2019 cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km), 12× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: shock absorbers (light misting of oil) (6.8×); pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement) (6.4×); service brake performance (binding but not excessively) (3.4×). The most common reasons a Skoda Fabia fails its MOT are position lamp (not working); pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn); joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Skoda Fabia
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Skoda Fabia than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | MOT fail | 2017–2019 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 3.7% | 0.3% | 12× | 11,112 |
| Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil | Advisory | 2017–2019 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 13% | 1.9% | 6.8× | 11,112 |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | Advisory | 2018–2020 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 4.5% | 0.7% | 6.4× | 20,033 |
| Service brake performance: binding but not excessively | Advisory | 2013–2015 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 4.4% | 1.3% | 3.4× | 6,822 |
| Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases | Advisory | 2011–2013 | 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 6.5% | 1.6% | 4.1× | 735 |
| Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | MOT fail | 2006–2008 | 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 9.1% | 3.3% | 2.8× | 5,258 |
| Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements | MOT fail | 2013–2015 | 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 4.2% | 1.3% | 3.2× | 1,305 |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | MOT fail | 1999–2001 | 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 9.1% | 2.3% | 4× | 317 |
Skoda Fabia by mileage (2017–2019 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 10,925 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (7%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (3.1%, 6.2×) |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 23,688 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (13%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (6%, 6×) |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 11,112 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (16%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn (3.7%, 12×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 3,030 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (19%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn (4.4%, 11×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 799 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil (18%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn (5.3%, 11×) |
Skoda Fabia by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 423 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (7.6×) |
| 2001 | 1,748 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (3.2×) |
| 2002 | 2,425 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (3.2×) |
| 2003 | 3,582 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (3.4×) |
| 2004 | 5,304 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (4.1×) |
| 2005 | 7,199 | Stop lamp: not working at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (2.5×) |
| 2006 | 8,736 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (2.8×) |
| 2007 | 10,016 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (3.1×) |
| 2008 | 11,822 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (2.5×) |
| 2009 | 14,600 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (2.4×) |
| 2010 | 11,762 | Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases at 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) (2.6×) |
| 2011 | 12,610 | Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (3.6×) |
| 2012 | 14,471 | Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (4.1×) |
| 2013 | 19,120 | Service brake performance: binding but not excessively at 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) (3.1×) |
| 2014 | 15,012 | Service brake performance: binding but not excessively at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (3.4×) |
| 2015 | 17,932 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (4.9×) |
| 2016 | 19,486 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (7.8×) |
| 2017 | 18,213 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (9.2×) |
| 2018 | 16,880 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (12×) |
| 2019 | 14,796 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (8.3×) |
| 2020 | 9,579 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (5.3×) |
| 2021 | 317 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (3.5×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Skoda Fabia?
In 236,051 UK MOT tests of the Skoda Fabia in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn): recorded on 3.7% of tests of 2017–2019 cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km), 12× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: shock absorbers (light misting of oil) (6.8×); pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement) (6.4×); service brake performance (binding but not excessively) (3.4×). The most common reasons a Skoda Fabia fails its MOT are position lamp (not working); pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn); joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt).
Why do Skoda Fabias fail the MOT?
Across 236,051 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Skoda Fabia were position lamp (not working) (7.4% of tests); pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) (3.6% of tests); joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) (7.5% of tests).
At what mileage do Skoda Fabia problems start?
The clearest Skoda Fabia-specific issue, pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn), peaks against other cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) on 2017–2019 cars (3.7% of tests vs 0.3% for all cars that age).
Where does this Skoda Fabia data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 236,051 tests of the Skoda Fabia. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.