Used car guide

2010 Skoda Fabia: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 Skoda Fabias, from 10,167 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

10,167MOT tests in 2025
62%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)
6,000typical miles a year
1.6×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 Skoda Fabias than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints1.6× usual
    Skoda Fabia
    8% All 2010 cars
    5%
    Rough price £60–£350

    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.

  • Individual direction indicators1.8× usual
    Skoda Fabia
    6.1% All 2010 cars
    3.3%
    Rough price £10–£80

    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 side1.8× usual
    Skoda Fabia
    2.4% All 2010 cars
    1.3%
    Rough 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.7% here, against 6.8% of all 2010 cars. Brake pads: 4.3% here, against 9.1% of all 2010 cars.

By area

The share of 2010 Skoda Fabia MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    36% 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.

  • Tyres
    33% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    28% 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
    27% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    12% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    11% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Skoda Fabia?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20216,704Tyres 24%
20208,799Tyres 28%
201914,617Tyres 28%
201816,742Tyres 31%
201718,007Suspension 31%
201619,330Tyres 32%
201517,747Suspension 33%
201414,489Tyres 32%
201318,313Tyres 33%
201213,331Tyres 33%
201111,278Suspension 37%
200912,580Suspension 43%
20089,515Suspension 49%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2010 Skoda Fabias registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score