Used car guide

2011 Skoda Fabia: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Skoda Fabias, from 11,278 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

11,278MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
6,300typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Skoda Fabias than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.7× usual
    Skoda Fabia
    18% All 2011 cars
    10.8%
    Rough price £100–£300

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

  • Steering rack inner joints2.5× usual
    Skoda Fabia
    6.5% All 2011 cars
    2.6%
    Rough price £80–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Exhaust system1.6× usual
    Skoda Fabia
    10.3% All 2011 cars
    6.4%
    Rough price £100–£500

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Individual direction indicators2.2× usual
    Skoda Fabia
    6.8% All 2011 cars
    3.1%
    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 side1.9× usual
    Skoda Fabia
    2.1% All 2011 cars
    1.1%
    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: 0.6% here, against 6.1% of all 2011 cars. Brake pads: 4.3% here, against 9.4% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Skoda Fabia MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    37% 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
    34% 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.

  • Brakes
    26% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    24% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    12% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    11% 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.

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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%
201010,167Suspension 36%
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 2011 Skoda Fabias registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score