2002 Skoda Fabia — MOT failures & pass rate
16,890 MOT tests on the 2002 Skoda Fabia are in this dataset, and 71.6% of them passed. That is 1.0 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 29.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.1% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,727 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.6% versus 14.4%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.0pp more often than petrol ones (29.7% vs 27.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.7% in 2021 to 27.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 3,061 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.2% | 2,398 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.0% | 1,854 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.7% | 1,307 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.3% | 1,062 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 1,054 |
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 | 1,727 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 1,460 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 844 |
| 4 | Wipers | 811 |
| 5 | Washers | 770 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 761 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.9% | 5,548 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.9% | 5,221 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.3% | 4,433 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.6% | 3,309 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 3,139 |
| 6 | Other defects | 17.2% | 2,901 |
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 | 382 | 14.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,762 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 4,434 | 26.6% |
| 90-120k | 3,845 | 30.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,527 | 31.8% |
| 150k+ | 2,910 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,982 | 27.7% |
| Diesel | 5,908 | 29.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,315 | 28.7% |
| 2022 | 4,056 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 3,242 | 28.3% |
| 2024 | 2,463 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 1,814 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Fabia
On a 2002 Fabia, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (11.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2002 Skoda Fabias pass their MOT?
71.6% of the 16,890 2002 Skoda Fabia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Skoda Fabia?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.1% of tests, followed by suspension (14.2%).
Does the 2002 Fabia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,890 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.