Used car guide

2006 Skoda Fabia: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Skoda Fabias, from 6,289 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

6,289MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
5,400typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 Skoda Fabias than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.4× usual
    Skoda Fabia
    18.4% All 2006 cars
    7.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.5%, against 3.4% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Headlights1.6× usual
    Skoda Fabia
    22.8% All 2006 cars
    14.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.1%, against 5.1% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Suspension arm2× usual
    Skoda Fabia
    7.6% All 2006 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Individual direction indicators1.8× usual
    Skoda Fabia
    6.6% All 2006 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 1.6% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Brakes pulling to one side1.9× usual
    Skoda Fabia
    2.8% All 2006 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 1% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.2% here, against 14.1% of all 2006 cars. Sub-frame: 2.1% here, against 7.1% of all 2006 cars.

By area

The share of 2006 Skoda Fabia MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    46% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    44% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    35% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    35% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    18% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    15% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Skoda Fabia?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20227,157Tyres 24%
20218,605Tyres 24%
20209,410Tyres 27%
201914,617Tyres 28%
201816,742Tyres 31%
201718,008Tyres 31%
201619,330Tyres 32%
201517,747Suspension 33%
201414,493Tyres 32%
201318,318Tyres 33%
201213,335Suspension 33%
201111,288Suspension 37%
201010,170Suspension 36%
200912,584Suspension 43%
20089,516Suspension 49%
20077,844Suspension 48%
20055,040Suspension 47%
20043,503Suspension 50%
20032,230Suspension 50%
20021,397Suspension 49%
20011,039Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2006 Skoda Fabias registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score