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Skoda Kamiq

All generations and engines together · 17,856 MOT tests in the 2025 data · typical mileage at age 7: 61k

Reliability verdict
BBy miles

Graded against its peers

Better than most small SUVs per mile driven. Watch steering and brakes. A solid used buy, provided its MOT history has no repeating steering advisories.

First-time failure at 50-60k miles
16.4%
Across 1,174 tests. The average for small SUVs is 21.1%.
Typical mileage at age 7
61k miles
How far the average car has gone by seven years old. Low-mileage models can look better by age than they are.

What owners report

Reported

Owner folklore from forums and the motoring press, with how well each report stands up. Most of it never shows up in an MOT, which is why this section exists at all.

e-Call/SOS emergency system software fault

Confirmed pattern

A software fault in the OCU (Online Connectivity Unit) means the automatic e-call/SOS emergency function can stop working properly, or throw a warning that disables other connected services. Buyers notice a persistent SOS or service-call warning on the dash or infotainment screen. Skoda issued two DVSA recalls covering this in 2019 and 2020 (unit replacement or software update, done free at a dealer), and a very similar SOS warning complaint resurfaced from owners as recently as late 2025, with Skoda handling those case by case rather than a blanket recall.

Mostly 2019-2020 build cars · fix free at a dealer · sources: DVSA vehicle recalls database (R/2019/376, R/2020/086), Honest John Ask HJ

Cold-start hesitation/juddering on the 1.5 TSI ("kangaroo" problem)

Confirmed pattern

The 1.5 TSI evo engine can hesitate and jerk when pulling away in the first few minutes from cold. It's the same fault that hit sister models Karoq and Seat Ateca on 2019-2021 cars, and VW Group has said it was resolved with a software update in 2020. Parkers' own test cars independently reported "jerky running" from the 1.5-litre engine, so it's not a one-off complaint.

Reported on 2019-2021 cars · fix is a free software update · sources: Honest John Ask HJ, Parkers reliability review

Infotainment freezes and clunky touchscreen controls

Emerging

Owners and reviewers report the touchscreen system freezing, being slow to respond, or lacking physical shortcuts for basic climate functions, forcing everything through the screen. One owner review called it "appallingly bad"; Parkers' own testers found it inconsistent car to car, with "gremlins" on some examples and no issues on others. Not officially acknowledged by Skoda and no TSB exists; a screen reset (holding the power button, or a battery disconnect) usually clears a frozen unit.

Reported across model years, inconsistent between cars · no official fix beyond resets · sources: Parkers review, Parkers owner reviews

DSG automatic: hesitant at low speed, dry-clutch wear risk

DisputedAutomatics only

Kamiq automatics use VW Group's 7-speed DQ200 dry-clutch DSG. Auto Express testers found it "sluggish" pulling away and "jerky when moving off from rest," which makes tight, low-speed manoeuvres like parking harder than in the manual car. The dry-clutch design has a wider VW Group history of mechatronic unit and clutch-pack wear leading to expensive gearbox repairs on other Group models using the same unit; doesn't apply to the manual gearbox at all.

Applies to automatic petrol variants only · sources: Auto Express Kamiq review, Honest John forum reports on DQ200 mechatronic failures

Front brakes wearing faster than expected

Disputed

A small number of owners report front pads or discs needing replacement at surprisingly low mileage, in one case only a few thousand miles into ownership. It's genuinely disputed: modern pads and discs are made softer and more sacrificial industry-wide than older parts, so most owners get well past 20,000 miles without issue, and this may just be normal wear rather than a Kamiq-specific weak point. No TSB or recall exists.

Reported by a minority of owners · sources: Parkers owner reviews, Honest John brakes FAQ

What to check on this car

Ranked from this model’s own MOT record, then from what owners report.

Saveable checklist

From this model’s MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this model On full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 3.1% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 0.2%
Bushes and ball joints Drive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 2.5% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 2.4%
A binding brakeRuns high on this model After the test drive, hold the back of your hand near each wheel hub. One wheel running much hotter than the rest is a sticking caliper. A car that slows itself down when you lift off on a flat road is saying the same thing.Recorded on 1.1% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 0.3%
Dampers Look for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 1.6% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 2.1%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller’s upkeep rather than the model, and they are where the haggling money is.

Tyres, all fourRuns high on this model Check the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 19.0% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 10.3%
Pads and discsRuns high on this model Look through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 18.5% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 7.0%
Windscreen and wipers Scan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 1.5% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 1.4%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the reports above rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Ask for proof the two OCU/e-call software recalls (2019 and 2020) were carried out, or check the gov.uk recall checker yourself. If not done, the SOS/service-call warning can appear on the dash and, on some cars, disrupt other connected features.
Start the car stone cold and pull away gently, ideally before it's driven that day. Any hop, hesitation or jerkiness in the first minute or two on a 1.5 TSI points to the kangaroo fault; check the software update has been applied.
Spend a few minutes on the touchscreen: change menus, pair a phone, use climate controls. Freezing, lag, or a full reboot mid-test is the reported infotainment gremlin, not a one-off glitch.
On an automatic, do a few slow, tight manoeuvres such as a parking bay. Some jerkiness from standstill is normal for the DQ200 DSG, but harsh clunks, slipping or delayed engagement point to clutch-pack wear.
Check front brake pad/disc thickness or ask for the last service report. Fronts worn down well under 20,000 miles is unusual and worth using to negotiate on price.
Read the full MOT history, not just the pass/fail. Repeated advisories for the same item across multiple tests means nobody's actually fixing it.

Open the saveable checklist, tick it off at the car

The MOT data

Measured

Computed from DVSA MOT results, all of Great Britain, 2025. Nothing here is opinion.

How this model wears

Skoda KamiqClass average, all tracked models

What testers flag

Share of tests where each item was recorded. The dark tick is the class average across all tracked models; bars are scaled within each group.

Faults with the car itself

The rows that judge the model rather than its keeper. 17,776 tests in this band.

Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
Minor
3.1%class 0.2%
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
Advisory
2.5%class 2.4%
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
Advisory
1.6%class 2.1%
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution.
Advisory
1.1%class 0.3%
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution.
Fail
1.0%class 0.1%
Vehicles internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights
Advisory
0.6%class 0.1%
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
Fail
0.5%class 0.1%

Wear, upkeep and luck

Tyres, pads and stone chips say more about how the car was driven and maintained than about how it was built.

A tyre seriously damaged
Advisory
22.7%class 13.1%
Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured
Advisory
18.5%class 7.0%
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Advisory
16.7%class 18.8%
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
Advisory
15.3%class 7.2%
Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
Advisory
3.7%class 2.1%
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
Fail
3.1%class 1.1%
Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
Advisory
2.8%class 1.9%
A tyre seriously damaged
Fail
2.4%class 1.6%

Others in its class

Same segment (Small SUVs), best MOT record first. Compare before you shortlist.

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