2013 Skoda Fabia — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 113,354 MOT tests, the 2013 Skoda Fabia recorded an 82.9% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 21.1% of the time, so this is 4.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.6%) and brakes (5.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, service brake performance and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 3,538 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.6% versus 7.8%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.5pp more often than petrol ones (21.3% vs 15.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 7,514 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.8% | 6,568 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.4% | 6,148 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.3% | 5,968 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 3,230 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 2,904 |
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 | 3,538 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 3,473 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,887 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,671 |
| 5 | Wipers | 2,593 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 2,380 |
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 | 26.4% | 29,966 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.5% | 20,920 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.0% | 17,019 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.9% | 13,445 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 6,307 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 5,484 |
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 | 9,803 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 37,789 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 38,552 | 18.8% |
| 90-120k | 18,991 | 23.1% |
| 120-150k | 6,018 | 24.6% |
| 150k+ | 2,193 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 85,210 | 15.7% |
| Diesel | 28,144 | 21.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,533 | 14.2% |
| 2022 | 22,656 | 15.1% |
| 2023 | 22,923 | 17.2% |
| 2024 | 22,780 | 19.1% |
| 2025 | 22,462 | 19.9% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Fabia
On a 2013 Fabia, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.8% 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.
- Tyres (5.4% 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.
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 2013 Skoda Fabias pass their MOT?
82.9% of the 113,354 2013 Skoda Fabia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Skoda Fabia?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by brakes (5.8%).
Does the 2013 Fabia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 28.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 113,354 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.