Škoda Fabia Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Škoda Fabia passes its MOT first time on 70.3% of tests, about the same as a typical car of the same age and mileage (70.5%). That puts it ahead of 49% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2013 Fabia does best (beats 70% of cars) and the 2018 worst (beats 17%).

Of its engines, the 1.6 Diesel does best (beats 59%) and the 1.0 Petrol worst (beats 24%).

Better than average on seat belts & airbags.

Watch these weak spots

Suspension arm bushes2.1×as often as a typical car

Brake performance1.7×as often as a typical car

Handbrake performance1.5×as often as a typical car

Drive shaft (CV) joints1.5×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Škoda FabiaTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 26%

Beats 34%

Beats 38%

Beats 34%

Beats 37%

Beats 38%

Beats 38%

Beats 39%

Beats 39%

Beats 43%

Beats 63%

Beats 66%

Beats 67%

Beats 70%

Beats 64%

Beats 63%

Beats 46%

Beats 30%

Beats 17%

Beats 31%

Beats 24%

Beats 15%

Beats 67%

Beats 62%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	2003–2017	946,144	72.3%	Beats 56%	C
1.0 Petrol	2015–2023	360,293	82.9%	Beats 24%	D
1.4 Petrol	2000–2014	174,215	59.0%	Beats 43%	C
1.9 Diesel	2001–2010	150,179	54.2%	Beats 52%	C
1.4 Diesel	2004–2017	145,208	59.9%	Beats 36%	D
1.6 Diesel	2010–2015	142,477	68.5%	Beats 59%	C
1.6 Petrol	2007–2010	38,528	64.8%	Beats 57%	C
1.2 Diesel	2011–2014	27,778	67.2%	Beats 50%	C

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Brakes: 7.9% of tests fail on brakes, against 7.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

11.9% vs 12.0%

Suspension

8.9% vs 9.4%

Brakes

7.9% vs 7.1%

Tyres

6.3% vs 6.3%

Visibility

5.0% vs 5.0%

Body & structure

4.3% vs 3.6%

Emissions & leaks

3.5% vs 3.1%

Steering

1.7% vs 1.9%

Seat belts & airbags

0.8% vs 1.1%

Wheels

0.3% vs 0.3%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Suspension arm bushes 2.1× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
Brake performance 1.7× typical
On the test drive, brake firmly: the car should stop straight with no pulsing through the pedal.
Handbrake performance 1.5× typical
Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.
Tyre damage & cracking
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
Sidelights
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Škoda FabiaTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Tyre damage & cracking	3.9%	3.5%	1.1×
Headlight aim	3.3%	3.3%	1.0×
Sidelights	3.0%	2.8%	1.1×
Windscreen wipers	2.9%	2.4%	1.2×
Headlight bulbs & units	2.5%	2.2%	1.2×
Suspension arm bushes	2.5%	1.2%	2.1×
Brake lights	2.3%	2.4%	1.0×
Tyre tread depth	2.2%	2.5%	0.9×
Handbrake performance	2.1%	1.4%	1.5×
Drive shaft (CV) joints	2.1%	1.4%	1.5×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	37.8
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	32.9
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	28.3
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	24.8
A tyre seriously damaged	23.6
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	22.4
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	21.9
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	21.5

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2023 Škoda Fabia1 engine90.5% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	3,591	90.5%	Beats 62%	B

2022 Škoda Fabia1 engine90.8% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	12,900	90.8%	Beats 67%	B

2021 Škoda Fabia1 engine85.8% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	25,286	85.8%	Beats 15%	E

2020 Škoda Fabia1 engine85.6% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	36,312	85.6%	Beats 24%	D

2019 Škoda Fabia1 engine84.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	71,548	84.9%	Beats 31%	D

2018 Škoda Fabia1 engine81.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	97,929	81.9%	Beats 17%	E

2017 Škoda Fabia3 engines81.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	61,942	80.7%	Beats 20%	E
1.2 Petrol	54,615	82.6%	Beats 44%	C
1.4 Diesel	6,856	75.2%	Beats 16%	E

2016 Škoda Fabia3 engines80.9% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	112,650	81.8%	Beats 52%	C
1.0 Petrol	25,819	78.1%	Beats 21%	D
1.4 Diesel	12,967	78.0%	Beats 48%	C

2015 Škoda Fabia4 engines81.5% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	110,886	82.8%	Beats 69%	B
1.0 Petrol	24,966	79.3%	Beats 42%	C
1.4 Diesel	20,128	77.5%	Beats 54%	C
1.6 Diesel	1,184	76.3%	Beats 43%	C

2014 Škoda Fabia4 engines78.6% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	100,732	80.1%	Beats 68%	B
1.6 Diesel	22,574	73.0%	Beats 50%	C
1.2 Diesel	5,351	71.5%	Beats 42%	C
1.4 Petrol	2,850	79.4%	Beats 75%	B

2013 Škoda Fabia4 engines76.4% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	122,970	78.4%	Beats 75%	B
1.6 Diesel	33,394	70.5%	Beats 57%	C
1.2 Diesel	6,512	69.5%	Beats 55%	C
1.4 Petrol	4,886	76.2%	Beats 73%	B

2012 Škoda Fabia4 engines72.7% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	66,013	75.5%	Beats 73%	B
1.6 Diesel	34,485	67.7%	Beats 58%	C
1.4 Petrol	17,559	75.6%	Beats 76%	B
1.2 Diesel	9,381	66.0%	Beats 51%	C

2011 Škoda Fabia4 engines70.2% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	63,335	72.8%	Beats 71%	B
1.6 Diesel	31,487	65.9%	Beats 60%	B
1.4 Petrol	9,477	71.6%	Beats 74%	B
1.2 Diesel	6,534	63.0%	Beats 47%	C

2010 Škoda Fabia6 engines67.1% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	53,817	69.5%	Beats 66%	B
1.6 Diesel	19,353	64.9%	Beats 64%	B
1.4 Diesel	12,105	60.4%	Beats 48%	C
1.4 Petrol	7,424	70.0%	Beats 72%	B
1.9 Diesel	5,769	59.9%	Beats 47%	C
1.6 Petrol	5,326	69.7%	Beats 63%	B

2009 Škoda Fabia5 engines60.9% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	65,704	62.4%	Beats 43%	C
1.4 Diesel	29,964	55.1%	Beats 32%	D
1.6 Petrol	14,245	67.1%	Beats 61%	B
1.4 Petrol	9,935	64.4%	Beats 55%	C
1.9 Diesel	8,819	55.3%	Beats 36%	D

2008 Škoda Fabia5 engines56.6% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	39,683	57.8%	Beats 39%	D
1.4 Diesel	27,254	53.3%	Beats 34%	D
1.9 Diesel	16,048	52.9%	Beats 35%	D
1.6 Petrol	12,819	62.4%	Beats 53%	C
1.4 Petrol	11,390	59.4%	Beats 47%	C

2007 Škoda Fabia5 engines55.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	41,308	54.2%	Beats 29%	D
1.9 Diesel	21,061	58.5%	Beats 62%	B
1.4 Diesel	14,434	51.8%	Beats 33%	D
1.4 Petrol	11,220	57.0%	Beats 37%	D
1.6 Petrol	6,138	60.6%	Beats 47%	C

2006 Škoda Fabia4 engines53.7% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	39,680	52.5%	Beats 29%	D
1.9 Diesel	22,974	56.1%	Beats 59%	C
1.4 Petrol	15,210	55.9%	Beats 38%	D
1.4 Diesel	9,725	49.4%	Beats 32%	D

2005 Škoda Fabia4 engines52.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	31,143	50.8%	Beats 27%	D
1.9 Diesel	23,123	54.9%	Beats 59%	C
1.4 Petrol	15,107	52.7%	Beats 33%	D
1.4 Diesel	6,739	46.2%	Beats 26%	D

2004 Škoda Fabia4 engines50.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	25,334	49.1%	Beats 26%	D
1.9 Diesel	19,889	53.4%	Beats 58%	C
1.4 Petrol	9,995	49.2%	Beats 23%	D
1.4 Diesel	5,036	47.9%	Beats 36%	D

2003 Škoda Fabia3 engines50.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	18,274	49.5%	Beats 27%	D
1.4 Petrol	13,991	51.3%	Beats 32%	D
1.9 Diesel	12,274	50.1%	Beats 47%	C

2002 Škoda Fabia2 engines51.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	22,745	52.1%	Beats 35%	D
1.9 Diesel	11,522	49.1%	Beats 43%	C

2001 Škoda Fabia2 engines50.7% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	16,560	51.4%	Beats 30%	D
1.9 Diesel	8,700	49.5%	Beats 41%	C

2000 Škoda Fabia1 engine51.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	5,866	51.0%	Beats 26%	D

FAQ

What is the Škoda Fabia MOT pass rate?

70.3% of MOT tests on the Škoda Fabia were passed first time, based on 1,984,822 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2000–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 70.5% of the time.

Is the Škoda Fabia reliable?

On MOT results it rates C (average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 49% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Škoda Fabia year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2013 Fabia does best for its age and mileage: it beats 70% of cars on UK roads. The 2018 does worst: it beats 17%.

Which Škoda Fabia engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.6 Diesel does best: it beats 59% of cars on UK roads. The 1.0 Petrol does worst: it beats 24%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Škoda Fabia?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, headlight aim, sidelights. Compared with similar cars, suspension arm bushes comes up 2.1× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Škoda Fabia reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ