2021 Skoda Kamiq — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 17,763 MOT tests, the 2021 Skoda Kamiq recorded a 91.6% pass rate. Against small SUVs of a similar age (7.2% fail rate), the 2021 Kamiq comes out 1.3pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.3%) and tyres (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, brake discs and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 532 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.9% once past 90-120k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.2% of tests failed in 2023 against 8.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.3% | 768 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.2% | 574 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 384 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 180 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 87 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 56 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 532 |
| 2 | Brake discs | 354 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 327 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 238 |
| 5 | Washers | 113 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 111 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 23.3% | 4,136 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.6% | 3,308 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.4% | 1,139 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.8% | 327 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 268 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.6% | 105 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 11,339 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 5,917 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 468 | 13.7% |
| 90-120k | 36 | 13.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 17,695 | 8.4% |
| Diesel | 68 | 10.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 384 | 5.2% |
| 2024 | 8,634 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 8,699 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Kamiq
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 4.3% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (4.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Tyres (3.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (2.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2021 Skoda Kamiqs pass their MOT?
91.6% of the 17,763 2021 Skoda Kamiq MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Skoda Kamiq?
Brakes, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by tyres (3.2%).
Does the 2021 Kamiq get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 13.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,763 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.