2016 Skoda Fabia 1.2L Petrol · SO65 PXM

A ten-year-old Fabia carrying a single dangerous tyre failure from January 2022 sits today on a broadly stable MOT footing, with the most recent test on 11 November 2025 recording a pass alongside only two minor items, a partially failed rear position lamp and a front wiper blade reported as defective on the offside. Across the six tests listed since 2022, the car has accumulated only one outright failure, which centred on an ineffective wiper and a below-limit inner tread tyre. Aside from that single failure and the two minor defects logged in late 2025, the intervening tests from 2022 through 2024 were returned with no recorded defects at all, suggesting that the deeper structural and mechanical elements have not yet produced MOT-level concerns. The 2020 test stands apart as the only one to raise multiple advisories, but those notes relate largely to cosmetic tyre condition and suspension bushes rather than to immediate pass or fail items. Recorded mileage of 87,174 against a ten-year age equates to an average accumulation of roughly 8,700 miles per year, which sits comfortably within the typical band for a small hatchback of this era and indicates consistent rather than sporadic use. There are no extended testing gaps on file beyond the usual annual cycle, and the continuous annual MOT presence from 2020 onwards implies the vehicle has not been laid up for any prolonged period. With reasonable annual mileage on a 2016 car, wear on consumables such as brake friction material, tyres, and suspension bushes should be proportionate to distance covered rather than aggravated by years of standing, which removes the usual concerns around seized calipers, perished rubber, and degraded brake fluid that often accompany low-mileage or stored vehicles. The advisories recorded in January 2020 are particularly relevant for any prospective buyer, as they provide direct insight into components that were already beginning to show age-related deterioration five years ago. The note covering both front arm rear bushes is important because once polyurethane or rubber suspension bushes start to wear, the progression is usually gradual but cumulative, and by now the original components may have moved into a more advanced state of play. On a test drive, the buyer should pay close attention to clonks or thumps from the front suspension when traversing speed bumps or uneven road surfaces, vagueness or delay in the steering response on turn-in, and any tendency for the car to wander or require correction at higher speeds, all of which are characteristic symptoms of perished or displaced front arm bushes. It is prudent to place the vehicle on a ramp for a hands-on inspection of those bushes, the drop links, and the condition of the front subframe mounting points, since MOT records only capture movement deemed excessive at the time of test. The remaining advisories from 2020 concern cracking and perishing on both an offside front and offside rear tyre tread, which would not be expected to recur on a fresh set of tyres fitted since that test, and child seat fitments on both 2020 and 2021 entries that simply prevented belt inspection rather than flagging any belt defect. The minor items from November 2025 are low-cost remedies, with the rear lamp likely traced to a failed bulb or LED module and the wiper blade being a straightforward replacement. The 2022 failure items should be considered already resolved, but it remains sensible to confirm that the wiper linkage and mechanism operate smoothly across the full sweep and that the present tyres carry at least 3mm of tread across the full width with no sidewall damage, given the previous dangerous tread finding. A general under-bonnet check for oil misting around the cam cover and for any staining on the front subframe would complement the known MOT items, but the recorded history itself does not point to any developing structural or corrosion concern at this stage.