2009 Skoda Fabia 1.6L Petrol · MT09 GPK

The 2009 Skoda Fabia presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent MOT on 25 February 2026 at 139,240 miles passed, but only after a failure on the same day flagged an ABS warning lamp and excessive play in the offside track rod end ball joint. That joint had already been noted with slight play in the earlier failure, indicating a progressive wear issue that was addressed just enough to pass. The overall trend is one of recurring suspension and structural advisories being managed rather than fully resolved, with corrosion appearing consistently across sub-frames and suspension arms without evidence of long-term repair. The mileage progression is broadly consistent with typical use for a 17-year-old car. Between the March 2025 test at 133,994 miles and the February 2026 test at 139,240 miles, the car covered roughly 5,246 miles in just under 12 months, which is slightly below the annualised average of around 8,191 miles. There are no dramatic gaps or sudden jumps in the recorded odometer readings, suggesting the mileage history is plausible and not indicative of long-term standing or clocking. A buyer should pay close attention to the front suspension and structural corrosion. The February 2026 failure listed corrosion on both the front and rear sub-frames, the nearside front lower suspension arm, and noted worn rear suspension arm pins and bushes on both sides. While none were deemed seriously weakened, repeated corrosion advisories across multiple test years suggest the underside has been deteriorating gradually. The offside front coil spring was fractured in March 2025, and both front lower suspension arm ball joint dust covers have been repeatedly flagged as severely deteriorated, allowing dirt ingress that accelerates wear. The ABS fault that caused the most recent failure also warrants diagnostic investigation, as intermittent electrical faults can be difficult to trace. The braking system shows moderate wear rather than acute failure. Rear brake discs were flagged as worn in February 2026, and both rear wheel bearings have appeared as noisy or rough across multiple tests. Tyre condition has been a recurring theme, with cracking, perishing, and structural tears noted on all four corners in March 2025. Combined with the headlamp aim and levelling device faults, the record points to a car that has been kept running but not cosmetically or mechanically refreshed. A thorough underside inspection, a check of the ABS sensor and wiring, and a close look at the sub-frame mounting points are essential before purchase.