Skoda Kodiaq
High-performance EA888 Gen3 with IS20 turbocharger in the Octavia RS. Fundamentally a mature engine that reaches high mileages with correct maintenance. Piston ring land fractures documented on tuned examples; rare at factory power levels.
180 hp — Kodiaq with composure
132 kW TSI in the Kodiaq: finally enough power for the large SUV. A good touring companion with DSG and optional AWD.
Engine Weaknesses 3
Piston ring land fracture in cylinders 1–2 documented, often after tuning or sustained high oil pressure operation. Leads to cylinder bore scoring and total engine failure.
Symptoms: Sudden engine failure on the motorway without warning, metallic particles in oil
Turbocharger failure on the IS20 can introduce metal shavings into the oil circuit and cause secondary damage to the engine block. Documented in the Octavia RS forum from as low as 11,000 km.
Symptoms: Power loss, whistling or hissing from turbo area, blue exhaust smoke under load
Early EA888 Gen3 units with undersized oil control rings burn oil. Consumption of 1 L/1,000 km possible. VAG revised piston specifications from around August 2016.
Symptoms: Frequent oil level warnings, blue smoke under load, oily spark plugs
Vehicle Weaknesses 8
Due to the vehicle weight (up to 2,000 kg) and aggressive ACC use, the rear brakes are disproportionately loaded. Rear brake discs and pads can be worn out after just 30,000–40,000 km.
The drain hoses of the optional panoramic roof swell or kink in the A-pillar, causing water ingress in the footwell. Owners report completely soaked floor mats and a risk of mould.
On 4x4 variants the Haldex coupling pump fails, often caused by a blocked filter (fault code C111204). Regular Haldex oil changes (every 30,000–60,000 km) are mandatory.
The DSG gearbox (DQ200 on smaller engines, DQ500 on larger ones) shows increased clutch wear, particularly with frequent city driving and trailer use. The clutch pack often needs renewal after 100,000–150,000 km.
The drainage channels of the panoramic sunroof block and water runs into the interior. Regular cleaning of the drainage channels is essential maintenance.
Particularly on sills, lower door edges and wheel arches, paint bubbles form due to inadequate corrosion protection. Rust breakthrough can occur after 4–6 years.
The electromechanical power steering develops a rattle or vibration when steering slowly. A firmware update partially resolves the problem.
The front strut top mounts wear from approximately 50,000 km and cause creaking when steering. Wear occurs earlier on the heavier SUV variants.
Reports & Tests
The Kodiaq passes the MOT with clearly above-average results. 87 percent of seven-year-old vehicles are fault-free, compared to 79 percent in the class average.
Explore more
All Skoda models Kodiaq NS overview