2021 Skoda Fabia Drive Mpi — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 697 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Skoda Fabia Drive Mpi, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 92.0% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.7% | 26 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 21 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.0% | 21 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 10 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 5 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 2 | Washers | 14 |
| 3 | Wipers | 10 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 8 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 6 |
| 6 | Attachment | 5 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 13.8% | 96 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.0% | 63 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.5% | 38 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.5% | 38 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 17 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 4 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 588 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 94 | 11.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 338 | 7.4% |
| 2025 | 356 | 8.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Fabia Drive Mpi
Before buying a 2021 Skoda Fabia Drive Mpi, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.7% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (3.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (3.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2021 Skoda Fabia Drive Mpis pass their MOT?
92.0% of the 697 2021 Skoda Fabia Drive Mpi MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Skoda Fabia Drive Mpi?
Tyres, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.0%).
Does the 2021 Fabia Drive Mpi get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 11.7% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 697 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.