2010 Skoda Fabia — MOT failures & pass rate
72,253 MOT tests on the 2010 Skoda Fabia are in this dataset, and 78.3% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (25.1% fail rate), the 2010 Fabia comes out 3.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.4% of tests against 7.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and service brake performance — position lamp alone was recorded 3,153 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.9% in the 0-30k band and 29.5% in the 150k+ band, a 18.6-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 20.1% fail against 24.3% for diesel, a 4.2-point gap across 72,247 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 8,239 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.9% | 5,733 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.6% | 5,471 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 3,825 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.2% | 3,749 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 3,004 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 3,153 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,287 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 1,993 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 1,991 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 1,931 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 1,906 |
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 | 26.8% | 19,381 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.6% | 14,882 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.4% | 13,329 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 7,660 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.3% | 7,403 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 6,757 |
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 | 3,087 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 15,201 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 23,218 | 20.7% |
| 90-120k | 18,487 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 8,400 | 27.7% |
| 150k+ | 3,819 | 29.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 45,660 | 20.1% |
| Diesel | 26,587 | 24.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,448 | 19.6% |
| 2022 | 15,176 | 20.5% |
| 2023 | 14,727 | 21.7% |
| 2024 | 13,959 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 12,943 | 24.0% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Fabia
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.9% 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.
- Suspension (7.6% 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.
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 2010 Skoda Fabias pass their MOT?
78.3% of the 72,253 2010 Skoda Fabia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Skoda Fabia?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.4% of tests, followed by brakes (7.9%).
Does the 2010 Fabia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 29.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 72,253 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.