2004 Skoda Fabia 1.2L Petrol · KX04 PNJ

The vehicle presents a concerning maintenance trend characterized by recurring mechanical failures in the suspension and braking systems. While it passed its most recent test on July 3 2025 at 139,308 miles, this followed a significant failure involving multiple safety-critical defects. The history shows that previous advisories from 2024 were either ignored or progressed into failures by 2025. This suggests a reactive approach to repairs where components are only addressed once they fail an inspection rather than through preventative maintenance. At 22 years old, the mileage of 139,308 miles represents an average of approximately 6,332 miles per year, which is consistent with typical low-use older vehicles. However, the data shows a period of activity between June 2023 and June 2024 where the car covered over 5,700 miles, followed by another nearly 7,000 miles in the following year. Despite the relatively low annual mileage, the vehicle is suffering from significant degradation of rubber and metal components, which is evident in the recurring age-related failures. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the front suspension, specifically checking the offside front lower ball joint and its dust cover which have been flagged as excessively worn and severely deteriorated. The rear braking system requires close attention as both inner brake hoses have shown persistent corrosion at the ferrule across two consecutive years. Furthermore, the rear lower coil springs and upper shock absorbers show repeated signs of corrosion and structural damage, indicating the suspension assembly is reaching the end of its functional life and may require comprehensive replacement soon. The condition of the exhaust system also shows signs of advanced wear with peeling skin and deteriorated mounting clamps noted in recent tests. The 2025 test also identified perishing on the front tyres, suggesting the rubber is failing due to age rather than tread wear. Given the history of insufficient brake travel and worn pads in the previous records, the buyer should verify that the entire braking system has been properly serviced and is not merely patched together to pass the MOT.