Used Skoda Fabia 2015-2021 reliability
Category: Small car
The Fabia is a great small car and, if you choose carefully, excellent value for money used.
What should I look for in a used Skoda Fabia hatchback?
The Fabia is a solidly built car, so most of your concerns will surround whether the interior is clean and tidy and that the alloy wheels, if specified, haven’t suffered any kerb damage. Its most likely use will have been as a town car, so check the bodywork for minor scuffs.
Owners reported problems with the seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox of earlier cars; it could be overly jerky when shifting. Some also found it difficult to utilise the Mirrorlink system on the car’s infotainment system. In our most recent reliability survey, the Fabia scored well on brake, tyre, windscreen wiper and headlight bulb wear, all being below the class average.
When it was initially safety tested by Euro NCAP, the Fabia was awarded the maximum five-star rating.
What are the most common problems with a used Skoda Fabia hatchback?
Driver's airbag
A recall concerns the driver's side airbag of Fabias made between 8 January and 28 February 2018; it may not deploy fast enough. Speak with your Skoda dealer to find out if your car is affected. It will need to have a replacement airbag unit fitted to solve the issue.
Is a used Skoda Fabia hatchback reliable?
In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, the Fabia ranked 21st out of 28 cars in the small car class.
As a brand, Skoda came 16th out of 32 manufacturers featured in our most recent 2023 reliability survey, with a good score of 94.1%. That placed them above Ford, Nissan and Renault, but below Hyundai, Kia and Mazda.
Check out the full list of brands here.
Used Skoda Fabia reliability: the owners' view
As part of our 2023 Reliability Survey, What Car? readers expressed generally positive opinions about the reliability and dealer service of the Skoda Fabia.
Owners liked the Fabia for its all-round performance, with only minor electronic malfunctions being reported. These issues, while infrequent, typically involved the car's infotainment system and were quickly rectified by dealers.
Dealer service for the Skoda Fabia has been praised for its efficiency and professionalism. Many owners reported satisfaction with the responsiveness and expertise of the dealership staff. However, there were a few instances where customers felt repairs took longer than expected.
Overall, the Fabia is viewed as a reliable vehicle backed up by a strong service network, and this contributed to a largely positive ownership experience.
If you would like to see the full reliability list, visit out What Car? Reliability Survey pages.
