2016 Skoda Fabia MOT pass rate: 80.4% (57,364 tests)
Is the 2016 Fabia getting worse?
Pass rate of 2016-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 82.6% -0.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 79.8% -1.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 78.8% -0.7 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2016 Fabia
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6,768 | 30.3% |
| 2 | Tyres | 4,634 | 20.7% |
| 3 | Brakes | 4,125 | 18.5% |
| 4 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 2,331 | 10.4% |
| 5 | Visibility | 1,621 | 7.3% |
| 6 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,530 | 6.8% |
All Fabia years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4,086 | 62.5% | -4.1 pts | 93,057 |
| 2002 | 5,603 | 62.7% | -3.0 pts | 95,137 |
| 2003 | 8,503 | 59.8% | -5.2 pts | 95,822 |
| 2004 | 13,022 | 60.4% | -4.0 pts | 105,857 |
| 2005 | 18,137 | 61.0% | -3.5 pts | 104,802 |
| 2006 | 22,244 | 61.4% | -3.1 pts | 101,005 |
| 2007 | 26,569 | 62.7% | -2.5 pts | 98,994 |
| 2008 | 31,789 | 61.8% | -3.3 pts | 96,293 |
| 2009 | 40,505 | 66.0% | -0.4 pts | 85,287 |
| 2010 | 32,575 | 71.1% | +3.8 pts | 85,769 |
| 2011 | 35,603 | 72.4% | +3.2 pts | 84,690 |
| 2012 | 41,339 | 74.8% | +3.6 pts | 79,780 |
| 2013 | 55,445 | 77.3% | +4.0 pts | 70,428 |
| 2014 | 43,756 | 79.5% | +3.6 pts | 62,907 |
| 2015 | 52,880 | 80.7% | +2.0 pts | 55,926 |
| 2016 (this page) | 57,364 | 80.4% | -0.9 pts | 51,862 |
| 2017 | 53,623 | 82.1% | -1.9 pts | 45,127 |
| 2018 | 49,508 | 84.4% | -1.9 pts | 36,908 |
| 2019 | 43,366 | 88.7% | +0.3 pts | 29,540 |
| 2020 | 26,184 | 89.7% | -0.3 pts | 24,481 |
| 2021 | 13,052 | 89.7% | -0.7 pts | 23,204 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Skoda Fabia years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2016 Skoda Fabia reliable?
2016-registered examples passed 80.4% of their MOT tests (57,364 tests, 2023–2025), -0.9 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 10 years old with a median 51,862 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2016 Fabia?
The median tested example shows 51,862 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2016 Fabia?
In this cohort petrols pass 80.7% of tests against 77.5% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.