Fault File
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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

Typical mileage at age 7
61k miles
Check the mileage view below; low-mileage models can look better by age than they are.

How this model wears

Skoda KamiqClass average, all tracked models

Known issues

Measured

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

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%

Unconfirmed issues

Reported

Owner folklore from forums and the motoring press. 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

Automatics 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

Viewing one? Ask this

Built from the two sections above.

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.

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