2020 Skoda Karoq — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 40,957 MOT tests, the 2020 Skoda Karoq recorded a 91.8% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small SUVs of a similar age (7.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.2%) and suspension (2.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, headlamp aim and brake pads — shock absorbers alone was recorded 912 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 10.4% versus 6.4%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.2% of the time against 8.2% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 3.8% of tests failed in 2022 against 9.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 1,705 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.3% | 925 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 751 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.3% | 519 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.1% | 436 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 205 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 912 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 730 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 477 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 466 |
| 5 | Wipers | 364 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 342 |
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 | 23.4% | 9,593 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.3% | 7,094 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.1% | 4,957 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.0% | 2,866 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 978 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 148 |
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 | 21,161 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 17,351 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,111 | 11.6% |
| 90-120k | 271 | 15.1% |
| 120-150k | 48 | 10.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 34,944 | 8.2% |
| Diesel | 6,013 | 8.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 558 | 3.8% |
| 2023 | 13,695 | 7.5% |
| 2024 | 13,204 | 7.8% |
| 2025 | 13,496 | 9.4% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Karoq
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.2% 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.
- Suspension (2.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (1.8% 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 2020 Skoda Karoqs pass their MOT?
91.8% of the 40,957 2020 Skoda Karoq MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Skoda Karoq?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by suspension (2.3%).
Does the 2020 Karoq get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 10.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 40,957 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.