2017 Skoda Fabia — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Skoda Fabia passed 86.8% of its 103,797 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail at 13.4%, so the 2017 Fabia sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.4%) and tyres (4.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, wipers and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 5,477 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.8% in the 0-30k band and 20.1% in the 150k+ band, a 12.2-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.9pp more often than petrol ones (16.8% vs 12.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.4% | 5,638 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.6% | 4,741 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.3% | 3,413 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.0% | 3,135 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 3,065 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 719 |
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 | 5,477 |
| 2 | Wipers | 2,864 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,997 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,850 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 1,574 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,352 |
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 | 24.6% | 25,537 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.4% | 19,131 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.0% | 18,700 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.7% | 6,923 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 2,429 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 1,128 |
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 | 33,851 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 49,834 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 16,154 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 3,231 | 21.1% |
| 120-150k | 505 | 20.2% |
| 150k+ | 214 | 20.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 97,571 | 12.9% |
| Diesel | 6,226 | 16.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,898 | 8.9% |
| 2022 | 20,415 | 10.7% |
| 2023 | 20,876 | 13.3% |
| 2024 | 21,204 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 21,404 | 16.9% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Fabia
On a 2017 Fabia, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (5.4% 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 (4.6% 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.
- Visibility (3.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2017 Skoda Fabias pass their MOT?
86.8% of the 103,797 2017 Skoda Fabia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Skoda Fabia?
Suspension, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by tyres (4.6%).
Does the 2017 Fabia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 20.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 103,797 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.