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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2011 Skoda Fabia MOT fail rate and common faults

How Skoda Fabia cars first used in 2011 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 49,291 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 14 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 14 (n=11,333)35.2%
All cars at 14 years (n=6,054,526)40.3%
Difference−5.1 pts
MOT tests of 2011 cars, 2022 to 202549,291

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 14 years old, Skoda Fabia cars first used in 2011 failed 35.2% of MOTs (11,333 tests), 5.1 points below the 40.3% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 11 to 14 years old, the fail rate moved from 30.1% to 35.2%.
  • Skoda Fabia cars first used a year earlier, in 2010, failed 36.7% at the same age of 14 years (11,108 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Skoda Fabia at 14 years, is coil spring broken, at 4.1 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 4.2).

MOT fail rate by test year

Skoda Fabia cars first used in 2011: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
202211 years30.1%13,10433.3%−3.1 pts
202312 years31.6%12,68636.0%−4.4 pts
202413 years33.6%12,16838.3%−4.6 pts
202514 years35.2%11,33340.3%−5.1 pts

Most common faults at 14 years

These figures cover all Skoda Fabia MOTs at 14 years: cars first used 2008 to 2011, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=49,769). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Side/position light not working Wear6.05.4
Brake light not working Wear4.63.5
Coil spring broken4.14.2
Driveshaft CV boot split3.42.3
Handbrake too weak3.22.0
Suspension arm bush worn3.12.1
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear2.53.1
Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases2.31.4
Dipped headlight not working Wear2.12.3
Individual direction indicators: incorrect colour Wear2.00.9

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=49,769). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear16.718.4
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear11.69.3
Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement10.48.4
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened9.711.0
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases6.63.7
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive6.38.5
Coil spring: corroded4.66.4
Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated4.32.6
Individual direction indicators: slightly discoloured Wear4.11.7
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear3.95.6

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=49,769). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 14 years

These figures cover all Skoda Fabia MOTs at 14 years: cars first used 2008 to 2011, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=49,769). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Petrol65.8%36.9%32,72440.0%77,028 miles
Diesel34.2%44.7%17,04040.8%108,033 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 14 years

These figures cover all Skoda Fabia MOTs at 14 years: cars first used 2008 to 2011, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=49,769). At 14 years, Skoda Fabia cars at over 150,000 miles failed more often (51.7%, n=3,054) than those at under 30,000 miles (17.5%, n=1,718). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Under 30,000 miles17.5%1,71819.6%
30,000 to 60,000 miles28.2%9,41030.5%
60,000 to 90,000 miles38.1%15,36439.5%
90,000 to 120,000 miles45.3%13,28444.0%
120,000 to 150,000 miles48.7%6,62244.8%
Over 150,000 miles51.7%3,05444.3%

Car tax rules for a 2011 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2011 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Skoda Fabia

Other Skoda models first used in 2011

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Skoda Octavia (2011)14 years in 202535.9%10,13540.3%
Skoda Yeti (2011)14 years in 202534.1%5,03740.3%
Skoda Superb (2011)14 years in 202536.3%2,50340.3%
Skoda Roomster (2011)14 years in 202534.2%1,49640.3%

More on the Skoda Fabia

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2011 Skoda Fabia cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.