Skoda Kodiaq common problems, recalls and buying guide (2017–present)

Written by the C4R team from DVSA data and owner reports. Fact-checked 2026-10-08.

The 30-second verdict

The Kodiaq is a practical family SUV with a generally positive reliability record. The first generation is now old enough to assess, and the best-supported recurring complaints concern infotainment and other non-engine electrical functions rather than a broad mechanical weakness. The second generation is still too new for a mature used-car fault pattern. Buy on condition and service history, test every electrical feature and check the exact registration for outstanding recalls.

Generations at a glance

Generation	UK years	Main powertrains	Buyer context
Mk1	2017–2024	1.4 and 1.5 TSI petrol; 2.0 TSI petrol; 2.0 TDI diesel; manual or DSG; front- or four-wheel drive	Available with five or seven seats depending on version. Check the exact engine, gearbox and drivetrain rather than relying on the trim badge.
Mk2	2024–present	1.5 TSI mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid; 2.0 TSI petrol; 2.0 TDI diesel; DSG	Too new for a mature fault record. Confirm remaining warranty and test all software-led functions.

The generation dates and range were checked against the Auto Express Mk1 used-car guide, the Parkers current Kodiaq review and the What Car? Mk2 used review.

Known issues

Infotainment and non-engine electrical niggles — Mk1

Label: Independently reported used-car issue; not presented as a recall.
What you may notice: sat-nav or phone-pairing problems, lost radio presets, climate-control faults, front-assist warnings or inconsistent operation of the powered tailgate.
Affected cars: reports concern the first-generation Kodiaq; the evidence does not establish that every system or model year is affected.
Check when buying: pair a phone, test navigation and audio, cycle the climate controls, operate the powered tailgate and check that cameras, parking sensors and driver-assistance systems work without persistent warnings. Scan all control modules if anything behaves intermittently.
Fix: diagnosis may lead to a software update, calibration, wiring or battery work, or repair of the individual failed component. Do not approve a replacement module solely from a dashboard message.
Corroboration (independent sources inspected): What Car? Mk1 reliability guide · RAC used-car review · Auto Express long-term test

No other non-recall fault from the source guide is retained: each lacked two inspected, independent reputable sources supporting a Kodiaq-specific fault at the level claimed.

Confirmed DVSA recalls

C4R matched the local DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch recalls CSV by trimming and uppercasing the fields, then requiring exact equality for both Make = SKODA and Model = KODIAQ. That returned 8 rows and 8 unique recall references, with no duplicate references. A separate search found no additional row mentioning KODIAQ outside that exact match.

DVSA ref	Launched	Build window recorded in CSV	Concern and remedy (concise summary)
R/2019/162	16/05/2019	17/12/2018 to 21/12/2018	Fixing nuts could be missing from the second-row seat frame; inspect and add nuts where required.
R/2019/210	30/05/2019	08/01/2018 to 28/02/2018	The driver’s airbag might not inflate quickly enough; replace the steering-wheel airbag.
R/2019/214	09/07/2019	01/02/2019 to 05/02/2019	The left-front seat frame could be cracked; inspect it and replace the frame if a crack is found.
R/2019/303	05/09/2019	12/10/2018 to 27/06/2019	The engine might provide too little torque at low speed; update the engine-control software.
R/2021/016	23/12/2020	14/07/2020 to 17/07/2020	The weld between the brake pedal and pedal plate might be insufficient; inspect the assembly and replace the pedal if faulty.
R/2022/075	23/03/2022	10/09/2020 to 05/02/2022	The engine-compartment cover could detach; remove the cover.
R/2023/086	27/03/2023	05/06/2013 to 05/06/2013	The driver-airbag gas-generator cover could be damaged on deployment; replace the driver’s airbag. Data note: the CSV assigns this Kodiaq row a 2013 build date, which predates the model’s launch. It is retained because it is an exact model match, but the date should be treated as a source-data anomaly rather than corrected or inferred.
R/2026/083	20/02/2026	23/10/2024 to 17/05/2025	An inner front-seat-frame edge could compromise the side airbag; fit sharp-edge protection to the seat frame.

All eight matching rows have blank VIN Start and Vin End fields. The CSV therefore cannot establish whether an individual vehicle is affected or whether remedial work has been completed. Check the registration using the GOV.UK recall checker and ask a Škoda retailer to check the VIN.

What the MOT data says

2024 DVSA figures

First-time pass rate: 88.1% from 37,495 normal Class 4 and 7 Skoda Kodiaq tests.
National comparison: 71.5% across the same dataset, putting the Kodiaq 16.6 percentage points above the national first-time pass rate.
Typical tested mileage: median 42,844 miles; mean 46,727 miles.

Most common recorded failure reasons

DVSA failure reason	Tests	Share of this model’s tests
Brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick	653	1.74%
Tyre cut deep enough to reach ply or cords	545	1.45%
Tyre tread below the 1.6 mm requirement	478	1.27%
Suspension pin or bush excessively worn	474	1.26%
Wipers not clearing the windscreen effectively	461	1.23%

One test can record more than one defect, so these shares must not be added together.

Common advisories to check before buying

Tyre tread worn close to the legal limit or worn on an edge — recorded on 13.59% of tests.
Brake pads wearing thin — 11.33%.
Brake discs worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened — 10.40%.

Method and limits: these figures were verified against C4R’s existing 2024 model-level analysis artifact, generated from DVSA anonymised MOT results. The pipeline uses normal Class 4 and 7 tests, de-duplicates by test and standardises DVSA model labels into model families. The figures describe tested Kodiaqs as a group; they do not predict one vehicle’s condition or distinguish every engine, trim and generation.

DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results · Open Government Licence v3.0

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024.

Buying one? Our checklist

Confirm the exact engine, gearbox, seating layout and front- or four-wheel-drive specification.
Check the registration for outstanding recalls and ask a Škoda retailer to verify the VIN and completed campaign work.
Start the car from cold and reject unexplained warning lights, rough running, fluid loss or overheating until properly diagnosed.
On a DSG car, test repeated Drive/Reverse engagement, low-speed manoeuvring and shifts when both cold and fully warm; require evidence of servicing applicable to that exact gearbox.
On a four-wheel-drive car, listen for vibration or unusual driveline noise at low speed and verify drivetrain servicing against the VIN-specific schedule.
Pair a phone and test navigation, audio, climate control, cameras, parking sensors, driver-assistance systems, powered tailgate and every seat mechanism.
Inspect tyres for cuts and uneven or near-limit tread, then check pad, disc, suspension-bush and wiper condition in light of the MOT findings.
Check that the service record is date- and mileage-supported and belongs to the car being sold.
Obtain an independent inspection and a full diagnostic scan before purchase.

Running-cost checks

Running costs vary substantially by engine, drivetrain, wheel size, first-registration date and original list price. Compare like-for-like official fuel figures, obtain an insurance quote for the exact registration and check the current GOV.UK vehicle-tax tables. No repair, servicing or ownership-cost estimate is included because the source guide did not provide independently verified figures.

Sources and further reading

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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