2020 Skoda Fabia Drive — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,280 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Skoda Fabia Drive, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 93.0% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 18.6% in the 60-90k group versus 5.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.0% | 39 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.5% | 32 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 28 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 18 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 9 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 9 |
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 | 35 |
| 2 | Wipers | 31 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 9 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 8 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 8 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 8 |
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 | 18.4% | 235 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.2% | 118 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.8% | 74 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.2% | 54 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.9% | 25 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 7 |
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 | 820 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 417 | 8.9% |
| 60-90k | 43 | 18.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 411 | 4.4% |
| 2024 | 430 | 8.4% |
| 2025 | 434 | 8.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Fabia Drive
Before buying a 2020 Skoda Fabia Drive, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.0% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (3.0% 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.
- Visibility (2.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2020 Skoda Fabia Drives pass their MOT?
93.0% of the 1,280 2020 Skoda Fabia Drive MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Skoda Fabia Drive?
Tyres, recorded in 3.0% of tests, followed by visibility (2.5%).
Does the 2020 Fabia Drive get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 18.6% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,280 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.