Used car guide · 2000–2026

Skoda Fabia common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Skoda Fabia, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 692,896 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

692,896MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
270,203on the UK register
7known faults across all years
2013best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000

Generation guides: Skoda Fabia Mk2 (2007–2014) · Skoda Fabia Mk3 (2015–2021)

What usually goes wrong with a Skoda Fabia?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Cambelt and water pump

    Cars registered 2007–2014 · Diesel and 1.4 petrol

    All diesels and the 1.4 petrol use a cambelt, due every five years or 100,000 miles, with the water pump at the same time.

    At the viewing: Look for the cambelt receipt.

    If it needs doing: Timing belt (cambelt) change, about £300–£700 (often with the water pump). ClickMechanic

    Source: Carbuyer: used Skoda Fabia Mk2 buying guide

  • Cambelt due every five years (petrol)

    Cars registered 2015–2021

    Petrol Fabias need a new cambelt every five years whatever the mileage; diesels at about 130,000 miles. A missed change risks serious engine damage.

    At the viewing: Look for a cambelt change in the service history if the car is over five years old.

    If it needs doing: Timing belt (cambelt) change, about £300–£700 (often with the water pump). ClickMechanic

    Source: Auto Express: used Skoda Fabia Mk3 buyer's guide

  • Timing chain wear (1.2 TSI petrol)

    Cars registered 2009–2014 · 1.2 TSI petrol (older engine)

    The older 1.2 TSI petrol uses a timing chain that can stretch. It starts as a rattle, especially when the engine first starts, and if it’s left the chain can fail and destroy the engine. Some garages advise changing it as often as every four years or 40,000 miles.

    At the viewing: Start the engine from cold and listen for a rattle in the first few seconds. Ask whether the chain has been changed, with an invoice.

    Source: Parkers: Volkswagen Polo (2009-2017) used review

  • Oil use on smaller turbo petrols

    Cars registered 2007–2014 · Small turbo petrols

    Some small, higher-powered petrols use up to a litre of oil every 1,000 miles.

    At the viewing: Check the dipstick.

    Source: Carbuyer: used Skoda Fabia Mk2 buying guide

  • Airbag recall (early 2018 builds)

    Cars registered in 2018

    A small number of cars built in January and February 2018 were recalled because the driver's airbag might inflate too slowly. The fix was a new steering wheel.

    At the viewing: Check the VIN on Skoda's recall checker.

    Source: Auto Express: used Skoda Fabia Mk3 buyer's guide

  • Loose trim and squeaks

    Cars registered 2007–2014 · All engines

    Window switches can come loose, and the dashboard top can rattle.

    At the viewing: Try every window switch and listen over bumps.

    Source: Carbuyer: used Skoda Fabia Mk2 buying guide

  • Brake fluid changes

    Cars registered 2015–2021

    Brake fluid should be changed after three years and then every two years. It's cheap but often skipped.

    At the viewing: Look for brake fluid changes in the service history.

    Source: Auto Express: used Skoda Fabia Mk3 buyer's guide

Common Skoda Fabia MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

    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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 3.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Headlights

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

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

  • Individual direction indicators

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    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.

  • Number plates

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Braking performance

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    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.

Diesel

  • Braking performance

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 3.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013.

    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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 4.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    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 indicators

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011.

    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.

  • Steering rack inner joints

    up to 7.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

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

  • Track rod ends

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

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

Skoda Fabia MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2013 Skoda Fabia did best (72% passed first time, 5 points above all 2013 cars) and the 2008 did worst (53%, 4 points below all 2008 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202395%92% +3371 (small sample)
202291%89% +27,373
202186%87% -117,132
202086%87% -128,057
201985%85% +043,492
201881%83% -249,672
201779%80% -153,824
201677%77% +057,587
201577%74% +353,065
201474%70% +443,913
201372%67% +555,699
201269%64% +541,542
201166%62% +435,812
201063%60% +332,775
200957%59% -240,746
200853%57% -431,953
200754%57% -326,762
200653%56% -322,425
200553%57% -418,278
200452%57% -513,122
200351%57% -68,572
200254%58% -45,645
200154%60% -64,113
200056%61% -5966

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Skoda Fabia

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. When was the cambelt changed?
  2. Has the cambelt been changed, and is there an invoice?
  3. Has the timing chain been changed, and is there an invoice? Does it rattle when you start it from cold?
  4. Does it need oil topping up?
  5. Has the airbag recall been done?
  6. Any rattles or loose trim?

Looking at a Skoda Fabia?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score