Used Skoda Karoq 2017-present reliability

Visibility in the Skoda Karoq is pretty good, but there are no front parking sensors on lower trim levels, so make sure to check the extremities for scuffs and marks, and the same goes for the alloy wheels.

You’ll also want to pay close attention to the interior, because a Karoq is likely to have been bought by families to carry children. Look out for stains, scratches and broken plastics throughout as signs of a less-than-sympathetic former ownership. Don’t forget to fold down the tray tables in the back, if fitted, to check them out too.

Cracked front seat frame

It's possible that a small number of Karoqs built between 1 February 2019 and 5 February 2019 could have a cracked left front seat frame. A Skoda dealer will be able to inspect your seat for any damage and will replace the frame if necessary.

Parking brake

The parking brake on some examples made between 1 July 2017 and 31 August 2018 could disengage at the wrong moment when the clutch is depressed. Any Skoda dealer will be able to let you know if your car is affected and can perform a software update if necessary to solve the issue.

Rear head restraints

There have been two recalls so far for the rear head restraints of the Karoq: the first relates to vehicles constructed between 1 May 2018 and 31 August 2018 where the mounting bracket might not have been welded correctly during production; the second is for the central head rest of models made between 18 April 2018 and 26 June 2018. Your local dealer will be able to let you know if your car needs to have any recall work carried out.

A-pillar interior moulding

Early cars manufactured between 21 October 2017 and 31 December 2017 had an issue with the interior moulding that covers the A-pillar near the windscreen: the fleece covering the moulding could peel off the moulding, which could then splinter in cold weather if the curtain airbag deploys from behind it in a collision, leading to potential injuries. Check with your nearest Skoda dealer to find out if your car still needs this recall to be carried out.

In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, the Karoq performed well. It ranked ninth out of 34 cars in the family SUV class, with an excellent overall score of 96%.

Reliability rating 96.0%

What went wrong? Non-engine electrics 8%, bodywork 4%, engine electrics 4%, sat-nav/infotainment 4%, brakes 2%, interior trim 2%, battery 1%

Petrol versions of the Skoda Karoq suffered nearly as many faults as the diesel-engined models – they have a fault rate of 22% compared with 23% for diesels – but far more of them were fixed for free. While Skoda paid for the remedial work on 93% of petrol Karoqs, it only did the same for 56% of diesels. The small percentage of petrol Karoq owners who had to pay to get their cars fixed were all charged less than £200 each, too. Repairs were mostly swift, but 10% of cars were in the workshop for more than a week.

Check out the full list of family SUVs here.

As a brand, Skoda came 16th out of 32 manufacturers featured, with a good score of 94.1%. That placed them above Ford, Nissan and Renault, but below Hyundai, Kia and Mazda. Check out the full list of brands here.

Used Skoda Karoq reliability: the owners' view

As part of our 2023 Reliability Survey, What Car? readers expressed generally positive opinions about the reliability and dealer service of the Skoda Karoq.

Owners liked the Karoq for its all-round performance, with only minor electronic malfunctions being reported. These issues, while infrequent, typically involved the car's infotainment system and were quickly rectified by dealers.

Dealer service for the Skoda Karoq has been praised for its efficiency and professionalism. Many owners reported satisfaction with the responsiveness and expertise of the dealership staff. However, there were a few instances where customers felt repairs took longer than expected.

Overall, the Karoq is viewed as a reliable vehicle backed up by a strong service network, and this contributed to a largely positive ownership experience.