Diesel Skoda Fabia: MOT pass rate

66.1% of diesel Skoda Fabias pass the MOT first time, measured across 45,540 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 111,611.

Diesel against the other Skoda Fabia versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Skoda Fabia specifically, petrol is the strongest at 77.9%, and this diesel version sits 9.5 points below the 75.6% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Skoda Fabia fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Skoda Fabia had covered 111,611 miles at test, against 61,151 for the petrol. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Skoda Fabia page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Skoda Fabia

1. Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle., 2.1% of tests (4.05x the national rate for this defect)
2. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 2.1% of tests (3.53x the national rate for this defect)
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.6% of tests (3.48x the national rate for this defect)
4. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 5.1% of tests (3.36x the national rate for this defect)
5. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 4.3% of tests (3.28x the national rate for this defect)
6. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 4.7% of tests (2.11x the national rate for this defect)
7. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 2.6% of tests (2.01x the national rate for this defect)
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 10% of tests (1.99x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.4% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this defect)
10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.9% of tests (1.65x the national rate for this defect)

From 45,814 DVSA-tracked diesel Skoda Fabia tests, 2024, split out from the Skoda Fabia's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4.85% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Skoda Fabia

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 4.9% of tests (3.55x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 7% of tests (3.49x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 3.4% of tests (2.65x the national rate for this defect)
4. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 3% of tests (2.24x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.7% of tests (1.75x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 23% of tests (1.72x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 6% of tests (1.52x the national rate for this defect)
8. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 17.4% of tests (1.42x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 7.3% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this defect)
10. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 6.1% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this defect)

From 45,814 DVSA-tracked diesel Skoda Fabia tests, 2024.

Other Skoda Fabia fuel types

• Petrol Skoda Fabia - 77.9%

All Skoda Fabia MOT data · Every model