2007 Skoda Fabia: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2007 Skoda Fabia?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2007 Skoda Fabia than on all cars registered in 2007.

• Drive shaft (CV) joints2.6× usual
  Skoda Fabia

  17.6% All 2007 cars

  6.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 8.3%, against 3.1% of all 2007 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.

• Suspension arm2.2× usual
  Skoda Fabia

  7% All 2007 cars

  3.2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.4% of all 2007 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 indicators2.1× usual
  Skoda Fabia

  6.8% All 2007 cars

  3.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 1.5% of all 2007 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.

• Link ball joint covers1.9× usual
  Skoda Fabia

  6.7% All 2007 cars

  3.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 2% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

• Brakes pulling to one side2× usual
  Skoda Fabia

  3% All 2007 cars

  1.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 1% of all 2007 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.

Petrol or diesel: does it make a difference?

The same figures for each fuel on its own. Check which one the car you're looking at is: it's on the logbook and in its MOT history.

Common 2007 Skoda Fabia MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2007 Skoda Fabia MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Suspension
  44% 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
  38% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

• 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
  31% 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.

• 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
  14% 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.

Known faults on the 2007 Skoda Fabia

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Cambelt and water pump

  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

• Oil use on smaller turbo petrols

  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

• Loose trim and squeaks

  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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2007 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. Does it need oil topping up?
3. Any rattles or loose trim?
4. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2007 Skoda Fabia as on other cars the same age.)
5. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2007 Skoda Fabia as on other cars the same age.)
6. Any recent work on the individual direction indicators? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2007 Skoda Fabia as on other cars the same age.)