2015 Skoda Fabia 1.2L Petrol · RO04 BEC

A pattern of suspension wear sits at the centre of this Fabia's mechanical story, despite a broadly clean MOT history across its recorded tests. The vehicle passed without defect on 2026-01-27, 2025-01-30, 2024-01-23, and 2023-02-06, but a single failure slip between the two January 2025 tests points directly to front lower suspension arm bushes. The offside unit was flagged as worn but not yet failing, while the nearside had progressed to a major failure with excessive movement. The fact that one side cleared at advisory level and the other had already failed on the same component suggests asymmetric wear rather than a systemic collapse of the front suspension, and the subsequent pass indicates that the nearside bush was replaced before the retest. There is no recurring theme of brake, exhaust, lighting, or structural corrosion defects across the five-year MOT window, so the broader trend points to localised suspension wear rather than a vehicle in general decline. With 36,587 miles recorded over roughly eleven years, the Fabia has averaged around 3,300 miles per year, which is markedly below typical usage for a small hatchback of this age. MOT tests have been taken annually without any multi-year gaps in testing, confirming the vehicle has remained on the road throughout, although the modest annual accumulation means many service intervals will have been time-based rather than mileage-based. Low-mileage cars of this profile commonly show greater wear on rubber components, brake discs corroding from infrequent use, and ageing coolant or brake fluid, while major mechanical items such as the engine, clutch, and gearbox tend to remain in proportionally better condition. The roughly 3,000-mile gap between the 2025 and 2026 tests aligns broadly with continued light use rather than any sudden change in driving habits or purpose. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection area is the front suspension, particularly the lower arm rear bushes on both sides. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed humps, uneven road surfaces, and when turning sharply at low speed, and feel for any vagueness or delay in steering turn-in. With the wheels loaded, any juddering or wandering over bumps can indicate that the replacement nearside bush is already wearing or that the original offside unit, which was only at advisory level last year, has since deteriorated. Inspect the condition of the front brake discs for lipping and surface corrosion, as low-mileage cars frequently suffer from pitted discs that can produce judder under braking. Finally, check the age and condition of the brake fluid and coolant, as both will be well past their recommended replacement intervals at this point regardless of mileage, and examine the tyres for age-related sidewall cracking given the vehicle's modest annual use.