Skoda Fabia (2013)

20,232 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.6% first-time pass rate

2013 Skoda Fabia

CarHunch analysed 20,232 real MOT records for the 2013 Skoda Fabia. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2013 Skoda Fabia passes its MOT first time at 83.6%, which is comfortably above the UK average of 80%—a solid sign of reliability. However, 35% of these cars have recorded at least one dangerous defect during their MOT history, which is significantly higher than typical and worth taking seriously when inspecting a used example. Petrol versions are noticeably more dependable, with an 84.8% pass rate compared to 80% for diesels, so if you have a choice, lean petrol.

At 46,000 miles median for an 11-year-old car, these Fabias are lightly run, which partly explains the decent pass rate, though the average 2.09 failures per vehicle suggests wear items (brakes, suspension, exhaust) are the real culprits rather than major mechanical issues. Before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks the suspension, brake condition, and underside for corrosion—these are where the failures cluster and where you'll find the best negotiating leverage.

Below average reliability 3.6% above UK average
83.6%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
46,071
typical mileage
32,944–60,950 middle half
35%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.09
avg MOT failures per car
over 11.7 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 4.8 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

84.8%
Petrol
15,304 vehicles
80%
Diesel
4,927 vehicles

What to check before buying a 2013 Skoda Fabia

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 35% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Skoda Fabia

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection ClickMechanic Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying

CarHunch may earn a small commission if you buy via these links — at no extra cost to you.

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (76%) 15,304 84.8% 1.92
Diesel (24%) 4,927 80% 2.61
Other (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Skoda Fabia vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

32,944
low mileage
46,071
typical
60,950
high mileage

Half of all 2013 Skoda Fabia vehicles fall between 32,944 and 60,950 miles.

2013 Skoda Fabia — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 17,752 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 90% of the peak.

19,631 17,752 2016 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.

MOT History Averages

11.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.09
Avg failures per vehicle
12.9
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2013 Skoda Fabia

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 44.4%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 41.9%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 30%
    Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 28.5%
    Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 26.5%
    Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
  • 23%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 19.7%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 19.3%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Skoda Fabia?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Skoda Fabia:

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022