2016 Skoda Fabia 1.0L Petrol · SW16 FLF

The Skoda Fabia’s most recent MOT, conducted on 24 June 2025 at 80,761 miles, passed with no defects—a clean result that suggests the vehicle has been well maintained in the past year. However, the immediate prior history reveals a mixed trend: the 25 June 2024 retest failure, just days after the initial pass, indicates a lapse in addressing critical issues, namely the central rear seat belt retracting mechanism and misaligned headlamps. These were not recurring faults but rather oversight failures, implying either delayed repairs or neglect of routine checks. The earlier 3 July 2023 test at 64,683 miles showed more concerning wear, with worn suspension bushes on both front lower arms and a handbrake with minimal reserve travel—problems that should have been rectified before the next test. The absence of further advisories or defects in the 2025 pass suggests these were addressed, but the 2024 failure raises questions about whether the vehicle was driven between tests despite being unroadworthy. The Fabia’s mileage accumulation—around 8,076 miles per year—aligns with typical usage for its age, neither excessively high nor suspiciously low. The gap between the 2023 and 2024 tests (approximately 8,313 miles over 11 months) and the subsequent 7,765 miles in the following year suggests consistent, moderate use without prolonged periods of inactivity. Notably, the 2024 failure occurred shortly after the 2023 pass, with only 8,313 miles logged in that interval—a relatively short window for suspension or brake components to degrade significantly. This implies the 2023 advisories were either ignored or only partially resolved, as the handbrake and suspension issues did not reappear in later tests, though the 2024 failure points to a broader pattern of deferred maintenance. For a prospective buyer, the suspension components—specifically the front lower arm bushes—demand immediate inspection, as wear here can lead to uneven tyre wear, reduced handling precision, and potential premature failure of associated parts like ball joints or track control arms. The handbrake’s lack of reserve travel in 2023 is a red flag; while it may have been rectified, the mechanism should be tested for smooth operation and proper cable tension. The 2024 failure highlights the importance of verifying that all seat belt systems, including the central rear retractors, function correctly, as defects here pose a direct safety risk. Headlamp alignment, though not a structural concern, should also be double-checked, as repeated adjustments suggest potential issues with the aiming mechanism or mounting points. Finally, given the vehicle’s age, a thorough examination of the exhaust system for leaks or corrosion, along with a check for any signs of rust penetration in high-stress areas like the sills or subframe, is advisable.