2000 Skoda Fabia Classic from UK and Ireland - Comments

Over torqued cylinder head and subsequent problems meant a new engine.

Illumination problem with the speedo on the dash meant a new dashboard.

Pipe detached from the rear wash/wipe.

Door locks broken on TWO separate occasions.

Window winder mechanism (broken pin) broken on FOUR different occasions.

Glove box release catch broken.

Chipped paintwork when new.

Dealer neglected to put any coolant in the radiator at the last service.

It is such a shame that a car that is so nice to drive, is let down by what can only be described as appalling reliability. When this is coupled with indifferent and unsympathetic dealer service, it just creates very dissatisfied customers.

On average, we are back at the dealer every 6 weeks with another fault. The journey to the dealer is a 70 mile round trip and has caused huge amounts of inconvenience and loss of annual holiday.

Many of the problems appear to be caused by poor build quality. Components such as door locks and window winders just 'feel' like they're not built to last.

It appears that we have a 'Friday afternoon car' that Skoda have refused to replace. We will, of course, be offloading the car before the 3-year parts/labour warranty expires.

"It's a Skoda - honest".

I have a Skoda Fabia 1.4 Comfort and you are not alone. I have had a blown head gasket, new lambda sensor, leaking rear doors, badge fell off whilst cleaning. Rear hatch release failed, heating controls malfunctioning, squeaky drivers seat.

And all this in less than 8000 miles.

I see the dealer every 2 months with a 50 mile round trip. The customer services have yet to offer any compensation despite 3 e-mails and photographic evidence of some of the problems.

Leaking rear doors, squeaky dashboard? All sounds worryingly familiar. Not to mention all of the electrical problems with it. Examples are the central locking and electric windows that don't always work properly and the power steering system that keeps causing problems.

Further, the dealers don't care, or seem incapable of sorting it out. VW really have destroyed their reputation as far as I am concerned. Never again. It'll be a Honda next time, thankyou very much. They seem to make their cars more reliable, and the dealers seem a lot more focussed on the people who pay their wages - the customers.

My Fabia ran fine - apart from a couple of minor niggles - for the first year. Then the warranty expired - the salesman told me there was a three year warranty, but the garage claimed it was only a one year warranty. First off, the "central processor" failed which meant that the central locking didn't work and the alarm went off whenever the car was driven. Then the alarm failed again. And again. The rear wiper now wipes the registration plate. The car leaks coolant - still - despite three visits to the dealer. The power steering has now failed and I am told that will cost over £750 to fix. I will have spent over £1,500 on fixing persistent problems - on top of exorbitant servicing. This should not happen to a car that is only four years old and that has less than 14,000 miles on the clock. I hate my car.

As an aside, I asked my Skoda garage whether they could MOT my car. They said they could. In fact, they drove my car round the corner to another garage which did the MOT. They charged me the MOT fee that the other garage had charged, and a very hefty labour fee for the time their mechanic spent drinking coffee in the other garage. I hate my car.

I am also having too many problems with my Fabia. In Greece warranty lasts for 2 years. I owe this car for 3,5 years now.

1) The engines <<sucks oil>>. I need an oil tank loaded into my car. Skoda dealer asked for 700 Euros to fix it.

2) There is a coolant leakage. Dealer replaced a faulty pump and tightened a screw (this screw is a common VW car problem). It didn't work.

3) Air recycle doesn't work due to cabling problem.

4) When I open the door there is a creaking and very annoying sound. I tightened the screws to the door mechanism, but a month later the problem reappeared.

I cannot say that I am proud of my car! Are you???

Look for these problems in 2001 1.4 100HP Skoda Fabia:

- Door locking control / remote failure.

- Power steering random failure.

- Loose gasket in radiator pipe.

Thank you.

I bought my Skoda Fabia a year and a half ago and after 3 months it needed a new steering scensor another 3 months later the steering warning light went on again another scensor

then 6 months later the engine warning light went on was told it neede a oxygen scensor told the garage on more money for him now 6 months down the road the air bag warning light is on and the epc light no power steering engine warning light power steering light only comes on when the car is moving a very badly assembled and design of car and I'm driving regardless because when it finally gives up ill send it back to skoda its self for the quality lads there to wonder what went wrong because no one like our cars anymore.

I have a Fabia 55 it has broken down twice (thank god for r.a.c.) Had plugs and points changed, but broke down again! Finally it was found that the cylinder head had gone, luckily for me it is still under warranty, but I have lost faith in the car, which is a shame as my last car was also a fabia and was brilliant. I think my next car will be a different model!!

I bought my year 2000 fabia 1.4 classic it has done 23000 to date. when under warrantypower steering sensor packed up.then dash lamps stopped working dash had to be replaced. both badges had to be replaced. water leak from rad which garage said they stopped warentry then ran out. th the troubles started more water leaks from rad I traced this to the fan sensor being loose. next left front door window winder cable mangled up part cost over 100 pounds for the part. next anti roll bar rubbers wore out. next front n/s tyre worn down to wires (tracking badly out never been kerbed) water coming into both back doors. boot keeps popping open on the move.3 sets of wiper blades both heated mirrors have stopped working. just two days ago drivers window winder cable tangled up. also rattle in dash driving us up the wall . dealer u/s he lost the agency would i buy another skoda i do not think so

We've owned a 2001 'Y' Reg Fabia 1.4 8v Classic from new (in Black Magic). It has covered 37000 miles and is mainly driven locally by my wife. We added air-con, so that also came with the trip computer.

After the 1st week, the air-con failed needing replacement. It's failed every MOT its been through on niggly little things which I really can't be bothered to mention.

The body panels seem paper thin, every time the wife comes home, it seems to have attracted yet another opened door or scuff (I really get the feeling other car owners still see Skoda's as very inferior cars - hang on, so do I). I've just replaced the front discs and pads myself, it's just been back to Skoda to have the front anti-roll bar assembly and mountings replaced with the updated version, which in my opinion should never have broken in the first place; very poor design which is completely different to its replacement.

The engine developed an oil leak at the bottom end which started to contaminate and break up the water/power steering drive belt, this was replaced yesterday. I asked my local garage (I'm not using the Skoda dealer anymore) to see if he could find the cause of the water warning light and chimes going off constantly. I'd previously talked to the Skoda guys and they actually agreed with my local guy that it was probably the sensor inside the water tank. He replaced that and also said he saw emulsion in the coolant which only means one thing; head gasket replacement is to be done in 2 weeks. BTW, the water bottle/sensor change did NOT solve the irritating chime / light; and no, it doesn't use any water - I'm hoping the head gasket is also causing that problem too.

In summary:

The 1.4 engine hasn't turned out to be as economical as we'd thought, trip computer regularly records 28-30mpg for a combined trip to work and back which is pretty poor considering its mostly dual carriageway. If you're buying a small engine for economy, buy one even smaller that'll save you in tax too (which 1.4 doesn't to any extent).

The suspension is way too soft and wallows all over the road. The brakes are poor, trim is cheap and the brake lights constantly blow.

Out of choice, I'd never own another Skoda... ever.

As mentioned above, It's a Skoda... Honest!!

I have owned 2 Skoda Fabias. One was a silver Elegance; it did 55.000 miles plus, and all that went wrong on that one was a couple of light bulbs, new tyres.

However, we also still own a blue Kkoda 1.4 Classic. Again it has done 33.000 miles over 7 years; the problem we have with this one is that we are getting damp on the 2 back doors. Has any one got a cheaper fix than going to a Skoda Agent ie How do you get the fabric off the back doors so as to enable me to try and fix the problem myself??? Any advice gladly accepted. Otherwise the car is going okay.

I bought a Skoda Fabia 2nd hand at the beginning of the year.

Just before we actually handed over the money, we went for a test drive and found that when we stopped loads of water was leaking out from under the bonnet. Closer inspection, we realised there was problem with the coolant tank. We bought the car anyway because the previous owner was willing to pay for the repairs.

Sent the car off to a Skoda Garage who CLAIMED it was because of a faulty radiator, that was replaced and cost £250.

Weeks later the car begins to cut off when stopping at traffic lights or generally slowing down. Ignored the problem for a while, but eventually the car would cut out and not start for 45mins! in rush hour traffic!!!

Back to Skoda garage we went and this time we're told its the thermostat housing that's causing the problem, so they went in to have a look and NO is not the housing it's a pipe that's cracked and needs replacing instead! OK, so they fixed that at £121 and I literally drove the car for 5 minutes, reached a round-about and it cut out again and continued to do so!!!

Phoned the garage the next day and they said 'oh, we think the hand gasket needs changing at a starting price of £300 and upwards depending on the extent of the damage!'

I'm practically pulling my hair out, I love the car, but not the incompetence of the garage who should know how to fix the problem!

Can anyone help???

Mate, I'm thinking of buying a Skoda Fabia, that's why reading the forum, the problem to me sounds like it could be the crank sensor, sometimes just needs cleaning!

2001 Fabia 14 8v, 128000 miles. One water pump and window regulator; these are both faults in common with every VAG car, so overall a goodie. You do get stinkers I know, but Skoda dealers do tend to resemble Ali Baba and his chums.

I have a Skoda Fabia Combi (estate) 1.9 TDI, which actually runs very well, ample power and brilliant economy (typically 60-70 MPG). It is comfortable, quiet when cruising and provides good load carrying capacity.

However, I am fed up with niggles. I have a very slight oil leak, which leaves the odd drip on the drive, but I cannot locate the source. When it rains, water soaks into the rear door interior panels and on to the carpet. The door drain channels are clear, so don't know why this happens. The supply tube to the rear washer keeps detaching itself at the pump end - and is very difficult to get at to re-attach.

The electric window switches decide for themselves whether they will work or not and finally the passenger door window mechanism has failed. One of the plastic slides secured to the glass carrier has snapped and now the cables are mangled. I have obtained a repair kit with new slides, cables and winder mechanism (without motor), but looks like a nightmare to work out how to fit.

I live in France where Skoda dealers are few and far between and, even if I track one down, despite my reasonable French, I shall have grave difficulty explaining the problem I need them to fix.