2009 Skoda Fabia MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 55.9% of Skoda Fabias first used in 2009 passed their MOT first time, against 58.3% for all cars first used in 2009. Across 40,926 Fabia first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and brakes.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Skoda Fabias first used in 2009 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
55.9%
of 12,553 first tests; all cars first used in 2009: 58.3%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
40,926
first tests, 2023–2025; 12,553 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
22.4%
of 12,553 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
88,500
middle half: 63,500–116,000 miles; all cars first used in 2009: 100,000

How the 2009 Skoda Fabia MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Fabias first used in 2009 against all cars first used in 2009 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Fabia figure was 2.4 points lower.

2009 FabiaAll cars first used in 2009
50%60%70%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2009, test year 2021: 60.5%All cars first used in 2009, test year 2022: 60.1%All cars first used in 2009, test year 2023: 59%All cars first used in 2009, test year 2024: 58.4%All cars first used in 2009, test year 2025: 58.3%2009 Fabia, test year 2021: 62.2%2009 Fabia, test year 2022: 60.6%2009 Fabia, test year 2023: 58.1%2009 Fabia, test year 2024: 56.7%2009 Fabia, test year 2025: 55.9%58.3%55.9%
View this chart as a table
Test year2009 FabiaAll cars first used 2009Fabia first tests
202162.2%60.5%15,567
202260.6%60.1%15,215
202358.1%59.0%14,632
202456.7%58.4%13,741
202555.9%58.3%12,553

Common 2009 Skoda Fabia MOT failures

Share of the 17,601 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment48.2%
Suspension34.7%
Brakes28.4%
Body, chassis, structure19.8%
Noise, emissions and leaks15.9%
Tyres15.4%
Visibility12.6%
Steering7.6%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Position lamp: not working18.3%3,220
Stop lamp: not working17.0%2,996
Coil spring: fractured or broken10.3%1,805
Parking brake efficiency (sp): efficiency below requirements8.7%1,526
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn8.5%1,504

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Fabia in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively wornSuspension arm replacement£150£120–£180

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2009 Skoda Fabia before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.

Common 2009 Skoda Fabia MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2009 Fabias, as a share of all 40,926 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge16.9%6,903
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing12.7%5,181
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement11.3%4,607
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened9.9%4,039
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases7.8%3,186

Questions about the 2009 Skoda Fabia MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2009 Skoda Fabia?

In 2025, 55.9% of Fabias first used in 2009 passed their MOT first time, against 58.3% for all cars first used in 2009. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2009 Fabia most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 48.2% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (34.7%) and brakes (28.4%). The single most common item was “Position lamp: not working” (18.3%).

How often does a 2009 Skoda Fabia fail its MOT?

In 2025, 44.1% of first tests on Fabias first used in 2009 did not pass first time: 35.2% failed, and a further 8.9% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 17,601 of 40,926 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2009 Skoda Fabia MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 16.9% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (12.7%), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (11.3%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (9.9%) and “Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases” (7.8%).

Is a 2009 Skoda Fabia reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 62.2% in 2021 to 55.9% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2009

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2009 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2009 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2009 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2009 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2009 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics

How the 2009 Skoda Fabia MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2009 Fabia” means a Skoda Fabia whose date of first use falls in 2009 (58, 09 and 59 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2009, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.