2011 Skoda Fabia — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Skoda Fabia passed 79.1% of its 77,627 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (23.9% fail rate), the 2011 Fabia comes out 3.0pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.7%) and lighting & signalling (8.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, individual direction indicators and service brake performance — pins and bushes alone was recorded 3,474 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.3% versus 9.6%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.7pp more often than petrol ones (23.9% vs 19.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.7% | 6,743 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 6,710 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 5,191 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.7% | 4,402 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 3,072 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 2,549 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 3,474 |
| 2 | Individual direction indicators | 2,384 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 2,305 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 2,134 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,083 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 2,052 |
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 | 27.2% | 21,080 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.5% | 15,928 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.4% | 14,280 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.1% | 9,426 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 7,247 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 6,378 |
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 | 3,208 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 16,812 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 26,730 | 20.5% |
| 90-120k | 19,919 | 24.4% |
| 120-150k | 7,816 | 26.6% |
| 150k+ | 3,130 | 28.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 50,304 | 19.2% |
| Diesel | 27,323 | 23.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,335 | 19.1% |
| 2022 | 16,039 | 19.6% |
| 2023 | 15,701 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 15,247 | 22.3% |
| 2025 | 14,305 | 22.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Fabia
On a 2011 Fabia, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (8.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.7% 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 2011 Skoda Fabias pass their MOT?
79.1% of the 77,627 2011 Skoda Fabia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Skoda Fabia?
Suspension, recorded in 8.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.6%).
Does the 2011 Fabia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 28.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 77,627 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.