2001 Skoda Fabia Comfort from UK and Ireland - Comments

Persistent rattle from behind the dashboard. Various dealers tried to fix on 3 occasions, and one dealer told me that it was a known problem, and there was a modified bracket behind the dashboard that he could fit. It started rattling again within 6 weeks. It still rattles today.

The power steering warning light keeps coming on. On occasions the power steering fails altogether. Skoda claimed (whilst the car was still under warranty) that they couldn't find any problems with the system.

Headlights flicker when the steering is turned, which is irritating when driving on dark, unlit roads. Skoda checked the charging system, and said nothing was wrong.

The rear door trims were soaking wet after heavy rain. The door seals were replaced / modified.

The electric windows swap sides (left hand switch operates right hand window). Skoda don't know of a fix.

The front suspension clonks/knocks a lot on bumpy roads, and although the dealer claims there is nothing wrong, it never sounds right.

The central locking switch sometimes doesn't work. Skoda don't know of a fix.

Various rattles have started in the area of the rear seats.

The Fabia, with the 1.9TDi engine, is a surprisingly quick and economical car to drive.

The handling is sharper than the equivalent Polo, and it comes across as a solid and good value for money car.

However, the dealers I have experienced (and I have tried 4 different ones) have all demonstrated various degrees of incompetence. Of the list of faults that the car developed during its warranty period, hardly any were acknowledged (let alone fixed) by the dealers.

It is one thing to have a "rogue" car, which is plagued with defects. However, my research so far has shown that the faults experienced on my Fabia are by no means uncommon.

The fact that the existence of most of these faults have been ignored by the dealers I have approached says to me that Skoda is shirking from its responsibilities to its customers.

Therefore, in spite of the car's apparent strengths, I shall not be buying another Skoda (or indeed another product from the Volkswagen group).

I had a similar knocking in the front suspension and it was a fault with the front anti-roll bar. The driver's side bush that holds the anti-roll bar in place had partially failed. It was replaced under warranty, surprisingly the dealer had the part in stock. (Car Fabia 1.9TDI Comfort estate)

I too have had a dodgy power steering experience.

The light came on a few times and the power failed.

Nowdays it just seems to pack up intermittently for up to 30 seconds at a time. The garage couldnt find anything wrong.

I also get flickering front headlights. I have assumed it is a

chattering relay or a loose connection as it happens when driving in a straight line.

If I could find a service manual I would have a go myself as the last service bill was £240 for an oil and brake fluid change.

Overall a nice car, but not impressed with the garage.

I had the same problem with the steering on my Fabia. Because the steering is electro-hydraulic, the car has something like a sensor for it. Just go to the dealer and tell him to check and replace this. And the problem will be gone.About the rattle in the dash.There is a small gap in the dash from the factory , for spare wires(ex:if you want to put some optional things.) - that gap is rattling , just tell the service to put something (better rubber) in that gap and no more rattlings.I don't have it anymore.I have also a review on the site "Good on lots of things, bad on reliability".

I have also experienced rattling from the dashboard, but as of yet no fix has been found. Has anyone experienced problems with temperature gauge not working properly my dealer replaced sender unit, but when checked there was no problem with the original one. Money spent for nothing and it didn't solve the problem anyway. Is it possible to buy thermostat separately without the whole housing as I feel the dealer is ripping me off!!

I also had two problems with the water temperature indicator. One time was the temperature sensor and next time when I replaced it again the problem was not solved. So after other checking by the service it proved to be the thermostat. So you should check the thermostat because it looks like the problem is same.I also have a review on the site- "good on lot's of things bad on reliability".

I have a 2001 TDI Comfort. At 15,000 miles the clutch release bearing failed and was changed under the Skoda used car warranty.

The front suspension also started to knock. The dealer said he fixed it, but the fault re-occurred 50 miles later (probably just bodged). The plastic bushes on the anti-roll bar break and come out of their rubber bushes. These were finally changed by the dealer and all is now OK.

The engine takes about 15 minutes to get to normal working temperature - the dealer says this is normal, but I believe that I too have a faulty thermostat - the dealer has refused to change it under warranty.

I too have dashboard rattles - the dealer changed the dash brackets, curing the original fault, but adding another.

Temporary cure - stuff a cloth between the windscreen and the dash above the radio.

I am very disappointed with the Fabia and the standard of dealer service. The car could be so good, but is let down by niggling faults which are either not covered by the warranty or which the dealer will not acknowledge. I have tried 3 Skoda dealers all of whom have shown varying degrees of incompetence or arrogance.

Toyota seem to have a good reputation for customer service -I might try one of their products next time - certainly not another Skoda.

I believe that the "Flickering head lights" and the Power steering failure (including warning light) are both as a result of loose battery terminals. It is worth cleaning them up and then tightening them.

Skoda Fabia Comfort 1.4 8 valve petrol engine, late 2001.

Annoying rattle from NSF suspension related to ambient temperature i.e.hot weather/hot under bonnet, minimal, cold temperature, rattle more pronounced. Corrected after four visits to dealer. Now back again out of guarantee. Putative anti-roll bar knock due to defective Silent-bloc fixtures.

Overall, an attractive car with failings which betray the excellence of the concept. Probably build down to price rather than up to an engineering excellence, an effect of marketing pressure.

Felicia owners, a new control unit for the alternator every 25,000 miles. Owners cannot win! J.P.Walsh.

Electric window switch swap sides from time to time. No apparent reason, just have to relearn which switch is for which. Fabia Fault. Understand that this has been subject of comments before. Window switch eventually failed and was replaced on warranty, no further eccentric switching sides. However car is now using one liter of oil per 1000 miles, with only 25,000 miles on the clock. Skoda manual however says that cars may use one liter per 1000 miles. unusual.

I have a Skoda Fabia, 2001 1400 8 valve.

Same faults seem to be relavent in most cases, mine has the same power steering fault, same flickering headlights.

Checked out at my regular garage "no faults found after a full service. Done 33000 miles.

It's reliable and has'nt let us down, but the Skoda dealers just don't seem to want to know untill its out of warranty.

Incedentally oil is fine uses nil between each 10,000 service.

At 24,000 miles the plastic tensioner pulley melted resulting in damage to 6 valves. The cost was over £1,200 to fix the damage. Luckily I had an extended warranty, but really, should one need to buy that after 3 years just to be safe?

Anyone else had this melted tensioner problem?

I just paid £708 to correct the light flicker problem. The dealer replaced an alleged faulty p. steering unit and it's warning sensor. I am angry that the fault is still not corrected. I have tried 3 times to get this sorted. My suspicions were aroused when I drove the brand new sport courtesy car home & saw the same fault. Reading the other comments clearly show that Skoda have a major problem with this. If anyone has a simple effective solution to this then please email me at norman904@aol.com I would be very grateful, but please make it soon as the nights are drawing in.

I have a 2002 fabia with creaky dashboard which was supposed to have been fixed by the dealer.. it came back. Also the rear wash hose pops out of holder, they did not even try to fix it. My warranty is now up and I will not be taking it back to Skoda for servicing. The last 20000 mile service was £200. For that I got an oil change and oil filter and lots of checks!

My 2001 Skoda Fabia is good overall. However I feel the power steering very light, the car seems to veer to the left. I've also had rear door seals leak, a knocking sound has now developed on the front suspension I believe. Fan belt failure occurred last year £195 to repair! The car just doesn't seem the full package despite the fabulous reviews it received. Too many niggling faults I feel!

My 2001 SDI is spoiled my a range of niggly faults.

Can anyone find a cure for screeching juddering wipers?

My car's got the knocking/creaking front suspension problem -I'll get the anti-roll bar bushes looked at.

The dashboard creak/clicking noise drives me mad. I'll try anything - suggestions please.

No cure though for the stifling interior (even in spring weather) other than getting one with air con I suppose. But why does it get so hot?

Lots of other things have gone wrong too, but at least they've been fixed (water pump, door seals, heater fan, radio, courtesy light switch). The pas fault seems to have fixed itself.