I recently noticed that the elements in the heated rear window seemed a different colour in a few positions (a light orange colour rather than the brighter orange).  The faults vary in length from about half an inch to a quarter of an inch along the element lengths in 4 different places.  I used the heated window last weekend for the first time in many months and noticed that whilst it cleared fully, it didn't seem to clear evenly. 

 

I have the car booked in for a service next week and have mentioned it to the garage.  Meanwhile, does anyone have any idea what the problem might be?  I don't carry long or heavy objects in the car so can't see me having accidentally scratched the rear window and there is no evidence of any damage around the area of the elements.

I've had that problem but just on the lower "bar" of the heating element.  It was caused when I peeled off a sticker put there by the garage - I don't like stickers on the windows!  The garage said the sticker should have been heated first before removing it but they didn't have an answer when I pointed out that this may well have removed part of the heating element strip.  The whole heating element works fine, but not the little section under the rear wiper.

The bottom line is that Skoda dealers shouldn't be putting stickers on their new cars which potentially would cause damage when removed.

From another Forum:

 

" At the moment that the bottom half of the rear heating elements don't work apparently due to damage on the lines. They wanting £400 for a new screen. I think I'll put up with it.

Used to be able to get a dab-on repair paint to mend them.
Probably caused by someone's diamond ring breaking the circuit.
Google " heated rear window repair paint " - they're cheap enough & back in the day worked a treat . . 
. . once I'd sacked the bird with the diamond rings!  "

The rear window on our Fabia III was also faulty as described in the original posting - no scratches or other damage, just a bit different colour on part of the element.

 

It was replaced by Skoda as a warrantee repair.

 

I think it was a manufacturing problem.