2018 Skoda Fabia 1.0L Petrol · SB18 FVM

The 2018 Skoda Fabia presents a mixed but broadly stable mechanical picture as of its most recent MOT on 23 June 2025 at 41,362 miles. That test passed, but only after a failure four days earlier on 23 June 2025 at 41,358 miles, where the tester flagged a defective offside wiper blade, a split nearside front CV joint boot, and light oil misting on the offside front shock absorber. The retest cleared the immediate failures, yet the underlying advisories persist. Both the June 2025 tests noted worn front lower arm rear bushes and the child seat obstruction preventing full seatbelt inspection, suggesting the car has been maintained to a passable standard rather than a thorough one. The trend is neither clearly worsening nor resolving; it sits in a holding pattern of minor defects managed just enough to pass. The mileage profile tells a story of very light use. At roughly 5,170 miles per year over eight years, this Fabia has covered 41,362 miles total, well below the UK annual average of around 7,000 to 8,000 miles. The record shows a notable jump between 21,929 miles in June 2022 and 36,284 miles in June 2023, an increase of over 14,000 miles in a single year, before settling back to a slower pace with just 2,077 miles added between June 2023 and June 2024, and a further 1,981 miles to June 2025. That spike in 2022-2023 may indicate a period of heavier commuting or long-distance use, after which the car appears to have returned to light duties. The low overall mileage is generally favourable, but prolonged standing can cause its own issues, including flat-spotted tyres, seized brake components, and deteriorated rubber bushes. A buyer should focus their physical inspection on the front suspension and drivetrain. The recurring advisory on both front lower arm rear bushes, present in both June 2025 tests, points to a wear item that has not been replaced despite being flagged. Check for play in the front arms and any knocking over bumps. The nearside front CV joint boot was split at the June 2025 failure and presumably repaired for the retest, but examine the joint itself for any clicking under full lock, as a contaminated joint will fail prematurely. The offside front shock absorber's light oil misting, also noted in both 2025 tests, is not yet a failure, but monitor it closely; a weeping damper loses damping efficiency and will need replacement. The braking system warrants attention too. In June 2023 at 36,284 miles, the tester flagged worn front brake discs and a nearside front brake pad wearing thin, along with a handbrake lever with very little reserve travel. That handbrake advisory first appeared in June 2022 at just 21,929 miles and was still present in 2023, suggesting the cable or adjusters have never been properly corrected. Have the rear brake setup inspected for seized adjusters or a stretched cable, and verify the front discs and pads have been replaced since 2023. Finally, the persistent child seat fitted at every test since at least 2025 means the adult rear seatbelts have never been visually inspected by a tester. Remove the child seat and check both rear belts for cuts, fraying, and proper retraction before purchase.