20th Feb 2013, 16:05

I bought a second hand '02 Skoda Fabia 1.4 MPI with 75,000 miles about six months ago. Appealed to me as it looked like it had had a gentle life owned by older people (and the tyres needed replacing due to age rather than wearing, which is always a good sign!). Lots of minor problems with it though including:

- Taking a long time for engine to warm up with poor economy until it has.

- Water leaks into and slightly through the doors in heavy rain.

- Problems with doors locking and unlocking when there has been heavy rain (presumably as water has been getting into the electrics). On one occasion I returned to the car in a public car park, and it had unlocked itself and wound down its front electric windows!

- Juddery start from warm. And you can't touch the accelerator when starting until the revs settle, otherwise it cuts out.

- And then today the engine warning light has come on.

All in 3,000 miles. I still kind of like it for some reason though. But I wouldn't buy another.

21st Feb 2013, 04:56

Good morning,

My Skoda Fabia 1.2, 2008, was sold to me with a number of problems that were obvious to me, but the dealer managed to divert my attention on the matters, and today I am suffering.

First thing is my air conditioning. From day 1, it never worked correctly, but when taking it back to the dealer, they rapidly managed to touch things I did not quite understand and my A/C started to function. They even told me that they had changed the evaporator. Well 3 years later I have no A/C and the warranty is finished.

My EPC sensor light comes on, and the car stops and loses power. Though the heating of the car was always there. I was using the car. I had to, it is my only way of moving around. I need my A/C, but don't have $1500.00 to fix it as it is the price they said it would cost. Thank you for any advice; I can't stand up for more than 100 minutes.

2nd Aug 2013, 17:38

You have to go direct to Skoda for that. £115-120 for it. Don't get it from anywhere else, trust me.

2nd Aug 2013, 18:03

I had the fuel problem too. Had it tested, and it came back as fuel trim too rich; too much fuel going into the engine. Not enough O2.

2nd Aug 2013, 18:06

There is a video on YouTube showing you how to fix the leak problem.

22nd Dec 2013, 04:59

Hi, just reading reviews on Fabias. Got one given to me, and they all seem to be rubbish.

Your uphill power problem is the same as mine; is this normal? Was considering scrapping my 51 plate 1.7 DTi Astra, with faults, but nowhere like the Fabia.

I think I'll just drive the Fabia to the scrapyard; they don't seem to be very good.

23rd May 2014, 13:33

Think I would find another garage if I was you. Skodas are as reliable as VW, built in the same factory, and often the same parts!

29th Sep 2014, 09:54

Hi. I recently (2 weeks ago) bought a Fabia 1.4 Comfort 01 reg, with full service history. I thought fine, it has been looked after. 3 days later, all of the dash lights came on and the engine stopped (in the middle of Tunbridge Wells High St). I was returned to my home by a recovery company, alternator fault - replaced.

The car was left for 3 days, I went to start it on the following morning, no power, battery flat. Skoda dealer diagnosis was battery U/S, battery replaced, fine for a day, no power again in morning, battery exchanged. Now on 25th 09 2014, no power again, Skoda dealership said battery fault again.

Can anyone advise me why the electrics seem to drain power? I have looked and cannot find anything that may be causing power loss.

Many thanks. Brian.

14th Apr 2015, 10:56

Fabia Ambiente 16v 2006: the EM light has been coming for a while on and then off - no other problems - but yesterday the power went down to about 40%, the EM light blinking. Any ideas what could be wrong?

2nd Jul 2015, 11:05

I also have a similar problem as so many of you with an intermittent engine management light and EPC light. This is accompanied by stalling. My mechanic was honest enough to advise me not to spend a penny on it as it could be 1 of 30 issues. I have been driving around in it for nearly a year now! I can't guarantee its safety, but it's been OK so far as the stalling tends to happen at lights. Good luck all. I would never buy a Skoda again!

3rd Sep 2015, 22:25

Hello, I have a Skoda Fabia Comfort 1.9 TDI, and I am having problems with flickering lights inside and out, and weird power steering. I have changed the alternator and the battery is charged; does anyone know what it could be please?

Thank you, Angie.

7th Nov 2015, 14:18

I couldn't agree more. I got rid of my Fiesta and bought a Triumph Herald. It's a pity that more people don't reject "over complicated technology just for the sake of it".

11th Dec 2015, 10:40

Steering angle sensor, about £150 fitted.

14th Jan 2016, 13:38

I own one of these with this fault; it's been there for the 3 years and 20,000 miles that I have owned the car. Check the owner's website... Briskoda... you will see that it could be due to a number of failings, however it is IMPERATIVE that you have a quality battery of at least 70Ah and 680ccA as the ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC (the clue is in the name) draws about 60 amps of current (ie... A LOT) when it cuts in. The poor alternator has to supply the car and charge the battery; insufficient charge from either will cause the lights to flicker (due to a lack of electrical charge... put simply).

Other than that, read the Briskoda forum, and like me, DON'T chuck money at it.

26th Mar 2016, 22:38

I had the same issue with engine management light on. The car still drove fine and I took it to multiple garages who didn't seem to see it as an issue. A garage did say the EGR valve needed to be replaced though, which I had done. The light went off for a while but came back on. Recently the EPC light has come on along with the car almost jumping, with revs varying massively. The only way to get going is to rev quite hard and then it seems to be OK until you have to switch it off again. When it first happened, the garage suggested cleaning some of the engine, not exactly sure what they did to be honest, thinking that should resolve the issue. It seems to have got worse now with it barely driveable today. It's a Y reg Skoda Comfort 1.4 petrol.

Any suggestions?? Thanks.

10th Sep 2016, 16:01

I have owned my 2004 1.2 HTP Classic for 2 years now, and it has been the best car I have owned in ages! In the 2 years I have owned it all I have done is replaced a reverse light switch, rear boot handle, and wipers. It had 111,000 on it when I bought it with 1 owner from new. She serviced it regularly up to 85,000, then stopped for some reason?!

So a full service was carried out, and last year I invested in a Terraclean treatment. I now get 37 MPG around town, a gain of 5 MPG!

It starts every morning without fuss, has the best heaters ever, is still on its original clutch after 115,000 miles, and I love it! Will be buying another!

There are plenty out there to choose from.

30th Dec 2016, 13:05

I have a Fabia and my power steering went about a week ago; did you get yours fixed at a garage? And if so, what sort of money did it cost? Or if you fixed it yourself, how big a job was it? I have very limited mechanical knowledge (I have checked the fluid, and that's clean and full), and equipment, as the car only has a month left on MOT; I don't want to spend too much money in case it needs a lot doing for that.

Thanks in advance for any advice. Rob.