2021 Skoda Kodiaq — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 15,105 MOT tests, the 2021 Skoda Kodiaq recorded a 92.0% pass rate. That is effectively the same as large SUVs of a similar age (8.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.2%) and brakes (2.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — brake pads alone was recorded 423 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 9.8% versus 5.4%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 7.9% of the time against 8.3% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 3.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.2% | 487 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.9% | 439 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 210 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.2% | 186 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.2% | 179 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 88 |
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 | 423 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 195 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 187 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 187 |
| 5 | Wipers | 106 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 95 |
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 | 19.1% | 2,890 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.2% | 2,595 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.2% | 1,696 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.2% | 1,385 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 487 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 57 |
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 | 6,103 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 7,991 | 9.7% |
| 60-90k | 857 | 10.5% |
| 90-120k | 123 | 9.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,457 | 7.9% |
| Diesel | 4,646 | 8.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 32 | 3.1% |
| 2022 | 44 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 395 | 3.5% |
| 2024 | 7,273 | 7.6% |
| 2025 | 7,361 | 8.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Kodiaq
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.2% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Brakes (2.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.4% 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 Kodiaqs pass their MOT?
92.0% of the 15,105 2021 Skoda Kodiaq MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Skoda Kodiaq?
Tyres, recorded in 3.2% of tests, followed by brakes (2.9%).
Does the 2021 Kodiaq get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 9.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,105 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.