2018 Skoda Kodiaq — MOT failures & pass rate
41,297 MOT tests on the 2018 Skoda Kodiaq are in this dataset, and 91.9% of them passed. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 10.3% of the time, so this is 2.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.8%) and brakes (2.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 788 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 Kodiaq fails 5.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 5.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.8 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 7.9% of the time against 8.2% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.8% | 1,581 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.1% | 886 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.7% | 697 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 658 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 375 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 274 |
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 | 788 |
| 2 | Wipers | 628 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 626 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 626 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 320 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 227 |
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% | 9,413 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.9% | 7,793 |
| 3 | Other defects | 11.0% | 4,544 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.1% | 1,708 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 1,403 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 192 |
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 | 10,014 | 5.0% |
| 30-60k | 20,724 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 8,395 | 9.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,699 | 11.6% |
| 120-150k | 343 | 14.0% |
| 150k+ | 121 | 5.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 23,973 | 8.2% |
| Petrol | 17,324 | 7.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,261 | 6.5% |
| 2022 | 8,244 | 6.9% |
| 2023 | 8,217 | 8.0% |
| 2024 | 8,298 | 9.0% |
| 2025 | 8,277 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Kodiaq
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.8% 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.
- Brakes (2.1% 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.
- Visibility (1.7% 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 Kodiaqs pass their MOT?
91.9% of the 41,297 2018 Skoda Kodiaq MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Skoda Kodiaq?
Tyres, recorded in 3.8% of tests, followed by brakes (2.1%).
Does the 2018 Kodiaq get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.0% in the 0-30k band to 5.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,297 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.