In this review
Advice for buyers
What should I look for in a used Skoda Fabia hatchback?
The Fabia is a very well 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.
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?
The Fabia backs up its well-put-together air with a good reliability record. In our most recent reliability survey it finished in 10th place in the city and small car sector with an excellent overall score of 95.8%.
Skoda as a brand consistently finishes highly placed in reliability and customer satisfaction surveys, often way above its more premium siblings Volkswagen, Audi and Seat. It finished in an excellent 9th place out of 31 manufacturers in our most recent survey.
If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.
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