All generations and engines together · 180,744 MOT tests in the 2025 data · typical mileage at age 7: 52k
Split by first-registration year. Cars registered in a changeover year can belong to either generation.
Computed from DVSA MOT results, all of Great Britain, 2025. Nothing here is opinion.
Share of tests where each item was recorded. The dark tick is the class average across all tracked models; bars are scaled within each group.
The rows that judge the model rather than its keeper. 69,385 tests in this band.
Tyres, pads and stone chips say more about how the car was driven and maintained than about how it was built.
Owner folklore from forums and the motoring press. Most of it never shows up in an MOT, which is why this section exists at all.
On the Mk2 Fabia's 1.2 TSI turbo petrol (2007-2014), the timing chain and its tensioner can stretch or fail well before the car feels old, with cases reported from around 30,000 to 45,000 miles. The giveaway is a rattle on cold start that should not be there. A tensioner and chain kit is a few hundred pounds if caught early, but a handful of owners have reported full engine replacements running £3,000-£7,000 when it let go.
The 7-speed dry-clutch DSG fitted to automatic Fabias (mainly 2007-2014, some early Mk3) is the transmission owners complain about most: hesitation pulling away, jerky changes, or a flare of revs before the clutch bites. It's often the mechatronic control unit or the clutch pack itself, and while a fluid change or software reflash sorts some cars, others have needed a mechatronic unit (£1,000+) or a full transmission rebuild quoted up to £4,000-£5,000 in the worst reported cases. Manual Fabias are not affected.
Creaks and knocks from the front struts and rear end come up repeatedly in owner forums, and this lines up with the measured MOT data for the class: suspension is the standout failure category for superminis like the Fabia. One owner reported a rear damper failing outright at just 26,000 miles, luckily still under extended warranty; most cases surface later, from around 40,000-70,000 miles as bushes, top mounts and dampers wear. Expect £150-£300 a corner for a damper if it needs replacing.
A window that stutters, drops on its own or stops halfway is a recurring complaint across Fabia generations, usually put down to a worn regulator or a fuse that's fatigued from repeated use. It tends to show up once the car is a couple of years out of warranty, and one owner was quoted around £250 for the repair. No recall exists, it's treated as ordinary wear rather than a manufacturer fault.
On the TDI diesel engines, the EGR valve can clog with soot, especially on cars used mostly for short town journeys, bringing on a rough idle or a warning light. One 2010 1.6 TDI needed a new EGR reported by its owner; other diesels driven mainly on motorways have gone well past 100,000 miles without issue. Cleaning or replacement runs roughly £150-£600 depending on whether the valve can be cleaned or has to be swapped.
Owners report a scattergun mix of electrical niggles: TPMS lights that won't clear, heater blower resistors failing, and on older cars the wiring loom in the front door hinges fraying from repeated opening and closing. Mechanics and forum posters are split on whether this is a genuine Fabia weak point or just what happens to any VAG-group car's wiring with age, so treat any individual report with some caution. Costs vary hugely depending on what's actually failed, from a cheap fuse to a few hundred pounds for a loom repair.
Built from the two sections above.
Same segment (Superminis), best MOT record first. Compare before you shortlist.