Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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With 249,571 currently licensed in the UK, the Skoda Fabia is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Fabia 5 stars in 2021, with 85% adult occupant and 81% child protection scores.
It has a 78.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, lighting, brakes.
Annual running costs are estimated at £2,549 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £212/month or 32p/mile.
NCAP Safety
2021
MOT Pass Rate
78.5%
120,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£212
est. annual total
New From
£21,000
Euro NCAP tested the Fabia in 2021 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
85%
Child Occupant
81%
Pedestrian
70%
Safety Assist
71%
There are 12 known DVSA recalls affecting the Skoda Fabia. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2026/002
On affected vehicles the propellant in the front airbag may deteriorate due to high humidity and temperature fluctuations. As a result in the event of an accident and airbag deployment fragments could detach from the generator housing and injure the vehicle occupants.
Build dates: 2013-06-14 to 2015-12-16
R/2025/278
On affected vehicles there is a risk in the event of an accident that if the passenger airbag is activated the protective effect of the airbag may be reduced and the gas generator cover may rupture resulting in serious or fatal injuries.
Build dates: 2022-09-12 to 2025-03-17
R/2023/251
On affected vehicles airbags have been fitted which may rupture when activated and may not function properly.
Build dates: 2021-09-16 to 2022-06-16
R/2023/086
On affected vehicles from a certain production period there is a possibility that the gas generator cover could be damaged when the driver's airbag is activated.
Build dates: 2013-06-28 to 2014-06-16
R/2023/086
On affected vehicles from a certain production period there is a possibility that the gas generator cover could be damaged when the driver's airbag is activated.
Build dates: 2015-06-12 to 2017-06-05
+ 7 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 120,000 MOT tests, the Fabia has a first-time pass rate of 78.5% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Fabia is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Skoda Fabia are estimated at around £2,549 per year, or £212 per month.
Fuel
£1,101
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£848
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The Fabia achieves a combined fuel economy of around 47.9 mpg (36.2 mpg urban, 58.9 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| FABIA | PETROL | 47.9 mpg | 1.2L |
| FABIA | PETROL | 43.5 mpg | 1.4L |
| FABIA | DIESEL | 58.9 mpg | 1.4L |
| FABIA | PETROL | 40.9 mpg | 1.6L |
| FABIA | DIESEL | 57.6 mpg | 1.9L |
| FABIA ESTATE | PETROL | 58.9 mpg | 1.0L |
| FABIA ESTATE | PETROL | 53.3 mpg | 1.2L |
| FABIA ESTATE | PETROL | 51.4 mpg | 1.2L |
Starting from £21,000 new, a Skoda Fabia typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £15,750 | −£5,250 |
| 2 years | 64% | £13,400 | −£7,600 |
| 3 years | 56% | £11,800 | −£9,200 |
| 4 years | 50% | £10,600 | −£10,400 |
| 5 years | 46% | £9,750 | −£11,250 |
| 6 years | 43% | £9,050 | −£11,950 |
| 7 years | 41% | £8,550 | −£12,450 |
| 8 years | 39% | £8,100 | −£12,900 |
| 9 years | 37% | £7,700 | −£13,300 |
| 10 years | 35% | £7,300 | −£13,700 |
There are currently 249,571 licensed and 15,726 SORN Fabias in the UK (265,297 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The Fabia has a 78.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 120,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Fabia 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2021. It scored 85% for adult occupant protection, 81% for child occupant protection, 70% for vulnerable road users, and 71% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Fabia are estimated at around £2,549 per year (£212/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 12 known safety recalls affecting the Fabia. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
A new Fabia starts from around £21,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
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