2021 Skoda Fabia Drive — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,406 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Skoda Fabia Drive, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 92.8% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.8% | 54 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 39 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.4% | 34 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 22 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 10 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.6% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 49 |
| 2 | Wipers | 36 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 11 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 8 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 8 |
| 6 | Lever | 4 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 16.2% | 227 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.3% | 103 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.2% | 59 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.8% | 54 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 33 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 8 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,025 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 353 | 9.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 678 | 7.1% |
| 2025 | 703 | 7.5% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Fabia Drive
Before buying a 2021 Skoda Fabia Drive, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.8% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (3.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (2.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2021 Skoda Fabia Drives pass their MOT?
92.8% of the 1,406 2021 Skoda Fabia Drive MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Skoda Fabia Drive?
Tyres, recorded in 3.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.8%).
Does the 2021 Fabia Drive get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 9.3% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,406 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.