2009 Skoda Fabia: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2009 Skoda Fabia?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2009 Skoda Fabia than on all cars registered in 2009.

• Individual direction indicators1.9× usual
  Skoda Fabia

  5.4% All 2009 cars

  2.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 1.3% of all 2009 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.

• Handbrake lever4.4× usual
  Skoda Fabia

  2.2% All 2009 cars

  0.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.4% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £80–£300 our estimate

  At the viewing: Pull the handbrake on a slope. It should hold the car within a few clicks.

• Exhaust emissions (catalyst)1.7× usual
  Skoda Fabia

  3.1% All 2009 cars

  1.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 1.7% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

• Brakes pulling to one side1.9× usual
  Skoda Fabia

  2.6% All 2009 cars

  1.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 1% of all 2009 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 2009 Skoda Fabia MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2009 Skoda Fabia MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Suspension
  39% 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.

• Lights and electrics
  32% 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
  28% 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
  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.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  9% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults on the 2009 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

• Timing chain wear (1.2 TSI petrol)

  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

  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 2009 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 timing chain been changed, and is there an invoice? Does it rattle when you start it from cold?
3. Does it need oil topping up?
4. Any rattles or loose trim?
5. Any recent work on the individual direction indicators? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the 2009 Skoda Fabia as on other cars the same age.)
6. Any recent work on the handbrake lever? (Flagged at MOT 4.4× as often on the 2009 Skoda Fabia as on other cars the same age.)