2016 Skoda Fabia — MOT failures & pass rate
112,890 MOT tests on the 2016 Skoda Fabia are in this dataset, and 85.4% of them passed. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (15.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.7%) and tyres (5.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, wipers and catalyst emissions — pins and bushes alone was recorded 6,066 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.8% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 14.4% fail against 16.7% for diesel, a 2.2-point gap across 112,890 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.7% | 6,483 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.0% | 5,635 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.6% | 4,018 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 3,435 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 3,303 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 1,865 |
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 | 6,066 |
| 2 | Wipers | 2,544 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 2,488 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,338 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,023 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 1,653 |
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 | 25.6% | 28,920 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.1% | 22,677 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.3% | 21,763 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.9% | 7,784 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 2,747 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 1,506 |
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 | 24,941 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 55,649 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 25,095 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 5,818 | 21.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,045 | 21.9% |
| 150k+ | 320 | 22.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 103,070 | 14.4% |
| Diesel | 9,820 | 16.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,713 | 10.4% |
| 2022 | 22,200 | 12.9% |
| 2023 | 22,785 | 15.0% |
| 2024 | 23,016 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 23,176 | 17.6% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Fabia
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (5.7% 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.
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
- Brakes (3.6% 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 2016 Skoda Fabias pass their MOT?
85.4% of the 112,890 2016 Skoda Fabia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Skoda Fabia?
Suspension, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by tyres (5.0%).
Does the 2016 Fabia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 0-30k band to 22.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 112,890 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.