2018 Skoda Fabia — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Skoda Fabia passed 88.4% of its 94,585 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (11.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.2%) and tyres (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 3,653 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.7% in the 0-30k band and 23.3% in the 150k+ band, a 15.6-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 11.5% fail against 16.1% for diesel, a 4.5-point gap across 94,585 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.2% | 3,971 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.0% | 3,763 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.4% | 3,226 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 3,167 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.6% | 2,442 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 747 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 3,653 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 3,076 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,011 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,351 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,095 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,034 |
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 | 22.6% | 21,370 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.9% | 14,100 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.1% | 13,340 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.7% | 6,363 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 2,039 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 863 |
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 | 46,707 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 38,609 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 7,806 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,088 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 224 | 22.3% |
| 150k+ | 146 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 93,732 | 11.5% |
| Diesel | 853 | 16.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,537 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 18,469 | 8.9% |
| 2023 | 18,914 | 11.2% |
| 2024 | 19,081 | 14.0% |
| 2025 | 19,584 | 15.6% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Fabia
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 4.2% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (4.2% 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.
- Tyres (4.0% 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.
- Suspension (3.4% 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.
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 2018 Skoda Fabias pass their MOT?
88.4% of the 94,585 2018 Skoda Fabia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Skoda Fabia?
Visibility, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by tyres (4.0%).
Does the 2018 Fabia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 94,585 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.