2019 Skoda Fabia — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 65,131 MOT tests, the 2019 Skoda Fabia recorded a 90.6% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail at 10.0%, so the 2019 Fabia sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.1%) and tyres (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — wipers alone was recorded 2,631 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.3% once past 150k — 4.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.1% | 2,694 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.6% | 2,374 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.5% | 1,629 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 1,597 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 1,071 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 331 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2,631 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,537 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 907 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 683 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 624 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 612 |
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 | 19.4% | 12,613 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.6% | 7,546 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.4% | 6,751 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.1% | 3,951 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 1,442 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 478 |
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 | 38,182 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 23,163 | 12.6% |
| 60-90k | 3,185 | 17.5% |
| 90-120k | 447 | 17.9% |
| 120-150k | 115 | 20.0% |
| 150k+ | 33 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 583 | 6.0% |
| 2022 | 16,047 | 6.9% |
| 2023 | 16,038 | 8.1% |
| 2024 | 16,061 | 10.6% |
| 2025 | 16,402 | 11.9% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Fabia
On a 2019 Fabia, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (4.1% 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 (3.6% 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.
- Brakes (2.5% 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 2019 Skoda Fabias pass their MOT?
90.6% of the 65,131 2019 Skoda Fabia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Skoda Fabia?
Visibility, recorded in 4.1% of tests, followed by tyres (3.6%).
Does the 2019 Fabia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 27.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 65,131 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.