2018 Skoda Karoq — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 75,023 MOT tests, the 2018 Skoda Karoq recorded a 92.9% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 9.8% of the time, so this is 2.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.0%) and lighting & signalling (2.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,603 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 Karoq fails 5.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.9 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 7.0% of the time against 7.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.0% | 2,960 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 1,657 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.9% | 1,410 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 1,188 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 280 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 269 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 1,603 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,443 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,077 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 967 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 372 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 249 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.8% | 17,110 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.4% | 11,528 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.5% | 5,594 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.4% | 4,774 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 1,933 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.2% | 175 |
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 | 29,985 | 5.1% |
| 30-60k | 34,185 | 8.0% |
| 60-90k | 9,044 | 9.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,475 | 10.7% |
| 120-150k | 276 | 16.3% |
| 150k+ | 56 | 8.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 49,430 | 7.0% |
| Diesel | 25,593 | 7.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,047 | 6.2% |
| 2022 | 14,924 | 5.8% |
| 2023 | 15,070 | 7.1% |
| 2024 | 14,944 | 8.0% |
| 2025 | 15,038 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Karoq
On a 2018 Karoq, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.0% 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.
- Visibility (1.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2018 Skoda Karoqs pass their MOT?
92.9% of the 75,023 2018 Skoda Karoq MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Skoda Karoq?
Tyres, recorded in 4.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.2%).
Does the 2018 Karoq get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.1% in the 0-30k band to 8.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 75,023 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.