2016 Skoda Fabia 1.0L Petrol · OU66 YHC

A repeated pattern of tyre-related failures and advisories defines this Fabia's MOT record, with dangerous tread-depth failures recorded on both the offside rear and nearside rear in 2022 and again on the offside rear in 2025. The 2025 test additionally flagged a malfunctioning tyre pressure monitoring system, a Major category defect, indicating an electronic rather than purely mechanical issue with the monitoring system. Across the 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025 tests, advisories for tyres worn close to the legal limit, edge wear, perishing or cracking appear with notable consistency, suggesting uneven or rapid front and rear tyre wear that has not been resolved between tests. Brake-related advisories are also recurring, including a slight near-side rear brake bind noted in 2024 and front brake disc wear or pitting flagged in both 2022 and 2023. The only structural or fluid advisory is light oil misting on the near-side front shock absorber in 2024, a minor finding but one worth noting on a 2016 vehicle approaching its tenth anniversary. Mileage accumulation of 69,327 miles over a ten-year life works out to around 6,900 miles annually, which is broadly typical for a small family car of its age and not suggestive of either heavy commercial use or extended periods of standing. There are no multi-year gaps in the MOT testing history, with annual tests recorded consecutively between 2020 and 2025, allowing a continuous view of mechanical condition rather than a record interrupted by an off-road period. The roughly steady annual mileage suggests normal mixed private use, with no evidence of a sharp mileage spike that might point to a long motorway commute or towing duty. Mechanically, this level of use is consistent with the kind of consumable wear seen in the record, particularly on tyres and brake components, without raising concerns about dormant component degradation from prolonged standing. A test drive should focus first on the brake feel after the slight near-side rear brake bind advisory from 2024. A binding caliper or sticking rear brake mechanism often presents as a rear wheel that feels hotter than the opposite side after a short drive, a faint pulling sensation to one side under gentle braking, or uneven pad wear visible on close inspection of the rear discs. The front brake disc pitting and wear advisories from 2022 and 2023 warrant attention to brake pedal feel: any vibration, judder or pulsing through the pedal under firm braking suggests the discs have worn beyond a safe re-finishing limit and may need replacement. It is also prudent to check visually whether the discs have a sharp lip on the outer edge, which indicates they are approaching their minimum thickness. The recurring tyre wear pattern, particularly the edge wear advisories on the nearside front and offside rear, points to either alignment geometry issues, frequent short cold-running trips, or suspension component wear. A test drive over uneven surfaces should be used to listen for knocking or clonking from the front suspension, which could indicate worn wishbone bushes, anti-roll bar drop links or top mount bearings, all known wear items on Fabias of this era. Any pulling to one side under steady throttle or braking could indicate geometry deviation. The oil misting noted on the near-side front shock absorber in 2024 should be re-inspected for any worsening, visible wet residue on the shock body or dripping onto the lower spring pan, which would warrant replacement. Finally, given the dangerous tread-depth failures on both rear tyres in earlier tests, a prospective buyer should physically measure all four tyre tread depths and inspect the sidewalls for perishing, as the advisory pattern suggests this is a vehicle that consumes tyres more quickly than average.