Skoda Karoq common problems and MOT failures
What goes wrong on a used Skoda Karoq, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 61,233 MOTs done during 2025), and what to check before you buy one.
Pick the year
Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).
What usually goes wrong with a Skoda Karoq?
Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.
- Cars registered 2017–2019 · Early cars
Parking brake, seat and trim recalls
Recalls covered a parking brake that could release when it shouldn’t (2018), headrests, cracked seat frames, A-pillar trim that could come loose in the cold, and engine software that could stall it at low speed (2019).
At the viewing: Ask a Skoda dealer to check the VIN for outstanding recalls.
- Cars registered 2017–2025 · 1.5 TSI petrol
Judder pulling away (1.5 TSI)
The 1.5 TSI can judder pulling away. A software update is available.
At the viewing: Pull away gently several times.
- Cars registered 2017–2025 · All engines
Weak batteries (early cars) and fuel flap
Some early cars had poor batteries, and some fuel flaps are hard to open.
At the viewing: Ask whether the battery has been replaced, and open the fuel flap.
Common Skoda Karoq MOT failures to check
Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2025.
Shock absorbers
up to 11.5× usualStands out on cars registered in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.
Suspension arm bushes and joints
up to 3.3× usualStands out on cars registered in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.
Skoda Karoq MOT pass rate by year
Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2018 Skoda Karoq did best (88% passed first time, 7 points above all 2018 cars) and the 2023 did worst (93%, 1 point above all 2023 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.
Questions to ask the seller before buying a Skoda Karoq
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Have all the recalls been done, including the parking brake one?
- Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 11.5× as often on the Skoda Karoq as on other cars the same age.)
- Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the Skoda Karoq as on other cars the same age.)
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at a Skoda Karoq?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score