2010 Skoda Fabia 1.2L Petrol · FT10 PLJ

A recurring theme of front suspension and underbody wear runs through the MOT record of this 2010 Skoda Fabia, and it is the single most important mechanical consideration for any prospective buyer. Across the recorded tests, the offside front suspension has attracted attention on multiple occasions: a fractured coil spring was recorded as a major failure on 29 December 2021, and at the same time the rear tyre on that side was flagged for cracking or perishing. By the January 2023 test, an upper anti-roll bar linkage ball joint had lost its dust cover sufficiently to allow dirt ingress, again on the offside front, and the rear bush on the offside front suspension arm was noted as worn though not yet beyond the pass threshold. The most recent test on 9 January 2024 returned a pass with only a minor defect for an inoperative registration plate lamp, which suggests the immediate safety-critical items were clear at that point, but the trend of suspension-related advisories on the same corner of the car is a pattern that warrants careful physical inspection rather than reassurance from the pass alone. Against an age of approximately sixteen years, the recorded mileage of 58,191 works out at around 3,600 miles per year, which is notably low for a vehicle of this vintage and points to either genuinely light use or extended periods of standing off the road. The MOT record itself shows some unevenness in coverage, with a gap between the June 2019 test and the November 2020 test and again into late 2021, which together with the modest annual mileage suggests the car has not been in constant daily service. Lower-than-average mileage of this nature can preserve cosmetic and engine internal condition, but it also tends to expose certain components to age-related deterioration rather than wear-related wear; rubber bushes, ball joint gaiters, flexible exhaust sections and tyre sidewalls all degrade with time regardless of mileage, and the advisories on this record align exactly with that pattern. The flexible exhaust joint leak noted in November 2020 and the perished rear tyre flagged alongside the broken spring are both classic low-mileage-ageing defects rather than high-mileage wear items. For a test drive, particular attention should be paid to the offside front suspension, which is the area that has generated the majority of the recent flags. Listen for any clonking or knocking over uneven road surfaces, particularly from the front offside corner, which could indicate that the worn rear suspension arm bush has progressed further since the 2023 advisory or that the anti-roll bar linkage joints have deteriorated now that their dust covers were already compromised. On a pressurised inspection ramp or with the wheels unloaded, any play in the offside front suspension arm or a rattling anti-roll bar link would be a concern. The fractured coil spring recorded in 2021 should also prompt a check of the remaining three springs for any signs of corrosion pitting or partial fracture, as coil springs tend to fail in matched pairs when one has already gone, and a broken spring typically announces itself through a noticeable drop in ride height on the affected corner and a harsher, noisier ride over bumps. The remaining items are comparatively minor but still worth verifying. The discoloured nearside rear direction indicator noted in 2023 should be confirmed as fully functional, and the registration plate lamp that was inoperative at the most recent test should be working now or repaired before use, as a failed lamp is an instant failure on the next test. The exhaust flexible section flagged in 2020 should be inspected for any renewed gas leakage, typically audible as a ticking from beneath the car on cold start or visible as soot staining around the joint. Given the car has stood for periods and accumulated only modest mileage, it is also sensible to check for age-related issues that MOT testing does not cover, such as the condition of the coolant, brake fluid and any perishable rubber components including the timing belt interval, which on a Fabia of this age is due for renewal regardless of the mileage shown. A pre-purchase inspection on a ramp, specifically addressing the front suspension components called out in the MOT history, is strongly advisable before committing to purchase.