Seven seats, one sensible price tag
The Skoda Kodiaq is one of the most affordable seven-seat SUVs on the market, sitting below the closely related VW Tiguan Allspace in price while offering similar underpinnings. It appeals to families who want space, practicality and value without paying premium-brand prices. Widely regarded as one of the best large SUVs in its class, it consistently scores highly in owner satisfaction surveys.
We track 12 known issues across the Skoda Kodiaq range, with 7 classified as significant. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Skoda Kodiaq? Enter the reg to see which of our 12 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
NS (2017–2024) — Petrol options included the 1.4 TSI, 1.5 TSI, 2.0 TSI, with 2.0 TDI on the diesel side. We track 11 known issues on this generation, with 6 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Kangarooing and timing chain wear (£600–£1,200 to address).
vRS (2019–2024) — Engine options included the 2.0 TSI vRS. We track 8 known issues on this generation, with 3 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Turbocharger failure and oil consumption (£1,000–£2,200 to address).
The EA211 1.5 TSI engine uses Active Cylinder Technology (ACT) which deactivates two cylinders under light load to improve fuel economy. The system causes noticeable juddering and kangaroo-like hesitation when switching between 4-cylinder and 2-cylinder modes, particularly on manual transmissions and during cold starts. The timing chain tensioner on this engine is also prone to premature wear, causing chain stretch and rattling noise after 40,000-50,000 miles. This is a widespread issue across the VW Group EA211 family and affects driveability significantly.
ACT system juddering affects driveability but does not cause mechanical damage. Timing chain stretch can cause valve timing issues, rough running, and eventually complete failure requiring engine rebuild. Chain replacement requires engine removal on some variants. Total repair costs range from £800-£1,500 depending on access complexity.
Listen carefully for a rattle or ticking noise from the engine on cold start — this is the most common early sign. Ask for evidence of chain replacement in the service history. On higher-mileage cars without documented replacement, budget for preventative work.
The 1.4 TSI CZDA engine fitted to early Kodiaq models has a design flaw where the camshaft phase regulator mounting bolts can spontaneously unscrew during operation. The phase regulator controls variable valve timing and when the bolts loosen, it causes severe timing disruption, engine rattling, and potential catastrophic damage if the regulator detaches completely. This is a known weakness specific to the CZDA engine variant and can occur without warning between 40,000-80,000 miles.
If the bolts fail completely, the phase regulator can detach and cause catastrophic engine damage requiring complete rebuild. Partial loosening causes timing errors, rough running, and accelerated wear of timing components. Early intervention with bolt replacement and threadlocker application typically costs £300-£800.
Listen carefully for a rattle or ticking noise from the engine on cold start — this is the most common early sign. Ask for evidence of chain replacement in the service history. On higher-mileage cars without documented replacement, budget for preventative work.
The AdBlue selective catalytic reduction system on EA288 2.0 TDI engines is prone to component failures that prevent engine starting. Common failure points include clogged AdBlue lines due to crystallisation, faulty NOx sensors, and AdBlue pump failures. The system typically fails between 40,000-60,000 miles and can leave the vehicle completely immobilised with a non-start condition. This is a widespread issue across VW Group EA288 diesel engines and repair costs can be significant.
Complete AdBlue system failure prevents engine starting after a countdown period, leaving the vehicle immobilised. Clogged lines require complete system flushing and component replacement. NOx sensor failures can cost £200-£400 each, while complete system overhauls including pump, lines, and sensors can reach £600-£1,500.
Check for any engine warning lights on the dashboard. Ask about the car's MOT emissions history — repeated failures suggest underlying issues. A pre-purchase diagnostic scan is especially worthwhile to check for stored emissions fault codes.
The EA288 2.0 TDI engine suffers from carbon build-up in both the EGR valve and diesel particulate filter, particularly on vehicles used for short journeys. The EGR valve clogs with carbon deposits after 50,000-75,000 miles causing rough idle, reduced power, and engine warning lights. The DPF simultaneously fills with soot and fails to regenerate properly on short-distance driving, requiring expensive cleaning or replacement. This is endemic across VW Group EA288 diesels and significantly affects vehicles not regularly driven on motorways.
Severely clogged EGR valves cause rough running, stalling, and eventual engine damage from excessive carbon build-up. DPF failure leads to limp mode, non-start conditions, and potential engine damage from back-pressure. EGR cleaning costs £150-£400, valve replacement £300-£600. DPF cleaning costs £200-£400, replacement £800-£1,500.
Check for any engine warning lights on the dashboard. Ask about the car's MOT emissions history — repeated failures suggest underlying issues. A pre-purchase diagnostic scan is especially worthwhile to check for stored emissions fault codes.
The high-performance EA888 2.0 TSI engine in vRS models operates under increased boost pressure and thermal stress compared to standard applications. Turbocharger failures typically manifest as bearing wear, wastegate actuator problems, or boost pressure leaks around 50,000-100,000 miles. The engine also exhibits higher-than-normal oil consumption due to piston ring design and high-pressure operation. Oil consumption rates of 1 litre per 1,000 miles are considered normal by VW Group but can indicate developing issues.
Turbocharger failure causes immediate loss of power and potential engine damage from metal debris in oil system. Complete turbo replacement costs £1,000-£2,500 including fitting. High oil consumption requires frequent top-ups and can lead to engine seizure if level drops too low. Vehicle remains driveable with turbo failure but power is severely reduced.
During a test drive, check for hesitation, lack of power or unusual whining from the turbo area. Watch for blue or white smoke from the exhaust under hard acceleration. Check the oil condition and service history — turbos rely on clean oil.
For the full breakdown of all 12 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Skoda Kodiaq common problems page.
Based on 133k real DVSA MOT tests, the Skoda Kodiaq fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is brake fluid significantly below minimum mark at 20x the fleet average, followed by transmission shaft flexible coupling deteriorated (14x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Skoda Kodiaq MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 10k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include dsg transmission service (£200–£300).
See the full Skoda Kodiaq service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Skoda Kodiaq is a solid choice on the used market, though not without its quirks. The issues we track are well-understood and largely avoidable if you know what to look for. A thorough inspection and complete service history go a long way. 2017-2018 first-generation models are the reliability sweet spot, scoring 704-724/1000 in reliability surveys with 92.9-94.6% first MOT pass rates. Avoid 2019-2022 petrol models which dropped to 559-617/1000 despite being newer.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Skoda Kodiaq, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 12 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 12 known Skoda Kodiaq issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.