2009 Skoda Fabia 1.4L Petrol · LO09 FXT

The 2009 Skoda Fabia presents a generally stable mechanical picture at its most recent MOT on 22 July 2025, passing at 152,835 miles with only minor advisories. The tester flagged an offside rear position lamp with a non-functioning element, a minor front exhaust gas leak, and front brake discs described as worn, pitted or scored but not seriously weakened. These are low-severity items. The maintenance trend is broadly stable rather than worsening, though a recurring minor front exhaust leak has appeared in multiple consecutive tests, suggesting the front section or flexi joint may be approaching the point of replacement rather than repair. Mileage accumulation is consistent and unremarkable for a 17-year-old vehicle. Between the July 2022 test at 142,820 miles and the July 2025 test at 152,835 miles, the car covered roughly 10,015 miles over three years, averaging around 3,300 miles annually in that window. Earlier years show slightly higher use, with about 4,229 miles added between July 2022 and July 2024. There are no suspicious gaps or sudden jumps in recorded distance that would suggest long periods of disuse or odometer anomalies. The overall annualised figure of approximately 8,990 miles sits within normal parameters for a small hatchback of this age. The most persistent fault in the record is a minor front exhaust gas leak, noted in July 2022 at the flexi pipe and again in July 2023 and July 2025 without escalation to a failure. This indicates gradual deterioration of the front exhaust section or flexi joint rather than catastrophic failure, but a buyer should have the underside inspected for corrosion, cracked welds, and deteriorating rubber mounts. The July 2023 failure for a high Lambda reading and an inoperative engine MIL points to an intermittent or resolved engine management issue, yet the absence of any repeat emissions failure since suggests it was addressed. Still, a live diagnostic scan for stored or pending fault codes is prudent. The advisory on front brake discs being worn, pitted or scored in 2025, combined with no earlier brake-related advisories, implies the discs may have been neglected or are original-equipment items reaching end of life. A physical inspection of disc thickness, pad condition, and caliper operation is advisable. Structural corrosion is not explicitly flagged in the record, but at 152,835 miles and 17 years old, a thorough underside inspection for rust on sills, subframes, suspension mounting points, and brake lines remains essential. The lack of suspension or steering advisories in recent years is encouraging, yet age-related wear on bushes, drop links, and coil springs is common on vehicles of this vintage. Tyres and wiper blades, as consumables, are absent from the record and should be checked for condition and remaining tread depth. Overall, the data suggests a car that has been kept running without major mechanical neglect, but one where minor, slowly developing faults like the front exhaust leak and worn front brake discs warrant attention before they progress.