2010 Skoda Fabia 1.2L Petrol · OY10 XAD

The 2010 Skoda Fabia presents as a broadly roadworthy vehicle with a stable, if not slightly deteriorating, maintenance trend at its most recent test. The May 2026 pass at 87,056 miles was clean of outright failures, yet the advisory list reveals a car now entering a phase of age-related corrosion and component fatigue. The tester flagged a severely deteriorated nearside front outer CV joint boot, a broken nearside rear bump stop, and corrosion on both front lower suspension arms and the rear subframe, noted as not seriously weakened at the time. These advisories signal that while the car met the legal standard, its structural integrity is being slowly compromised by rust and perished rubber, a pattern consistent with a vehicle that has likely seen prolonged standing or damp storage rather than sustained high-mileage use. Mileage accumulation tells a clear story of light, and at times very light, use. Between the May 2022 test at 70,283 miles and the April 2023 test at 74,701 miles, the car covered 4,418 miles in just under a year. That then slowed sharply to 3,775 miles between April 2023 and May 2024, before dropping further to just 3,922 miles in the full twelve months leading to the May 2025 test. The final jump to 87,056 miles by May 2026 represents 4,658 miles in roughly a year, still well below the UK average. This sub-5,500-mile annual average over its sixteen-year life is low and points to a vehicle that has spent considerable time stationary, which directly explains the corrosion-related advisories rather than mechanical wear from use. The recurring theme across the MOT record is corrosion and consumable wear rather than catastrophic mechanical failure. Exhaust rust appeared as early as the May 2022 test and a minor front exhaust flexi leak was noted in May 2025, suggesting the exhaust system has been slowly degrading for at least four years. Front brake discs have shown wear advisories in both 2024 and 2025, indicating the braking system is being used gently but is ageing. Tyre wear advisories have appeared on both axles across multiple tests, with uneven and edge wear patterns suggesting possible alignment issues or prolonged standing causing flat-spotting. The 2026 advisories on suspension arm corrosion and rear subframe corrosion are the most structurally significant flags on record. A buyer should inspect the underside in person, paying close attention to the rear subframe and front lower suspension arms for any progression of corrosion beyond the 2026 advisory. The nearside front CV boot needs immediate attention, as a severely deteriorated boot will have allowed grease loss and contamination, risking joint failure. Check the condition of the exhaust system end to end, verify tyre dates and wear patterns across all four wheels, and assess whether the brake discs and pads have been replaced since the 2025 advisory. This is a low-mileage car with a long but thin service record, and its condition will depend far more on how it was stored than how it was driven.