The two things to keep an eye on
Oil. The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol has a reputation for liking a drop of oil. CarsGuide puts that down to its low-friction piston rings, not a fault, but it still means checking the level between services. Do it on a cold car on level ground, and tell the mechanic how much it's been taking.
The gearbox. CarsGuide says all 2017 to 2025 Kodiaqs use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with wet clutches (clutch packs running in oil). It adds that the problems of earlier dual-clutch gearboxes seem to have gone. Still, slow gear changes or shudder from a standstill can mean serious transmission trouble, so get them checked rather than living with them.
Skoda Kodiaq service schedule
| What Skoda sets | What it means for you | |
|---|---|---|
| Interval | 15,000 km or 12 months, whichever comes first | A low-kilometre Kodiaq still gets a yearly service |
| Time-based items | Brake fluid and the pollen filter | They come up by date, even if the car hasn't moved much |
| Skoda Care Plans | The first 5 services to 75,000 km, or 7 to 105,000 km | Pre-paid, at an authorised Skoda dealer |
| Your responsibility | Servicing to the Service Schedule | Keep every invoice, wherever it's serviced |
Recalls to check
CarsGuide lists a handful: rear seat nuts that may not have been fitted at the factory, a plastic engine cover that could touch the turbocharger and risk an under-bonnet fire, and Takata airbags, the most serious of them. Run your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au or on Skoda's own checker. Recall work is done by Skoda dealers.
Which Kodiaq, and the warranty
The first-generation Kodiaq went on sale in 2017 with a 132 kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol, a 140 kW diesel and a 176 kW diesel. The 2022 RS switched to a 180 kW turbo-petrol. The second generation went into production in January 2024, and 2025 listings add a 1.5-litre mild hybrid and a plug-in hybrid, which uses a 6-speed DSG.
Skoda's 7-year unlimited kilometre warranty applies to new cars, and a plug-in hybrid's high-voltage battery has its own cover of eight years or 160,000 km. A qualified independent mechanic servicing a Kodiaq to Skoda's schedule and specifications doesn't by itself void the warranty.
Tell us it's a Kodiaq, the year and the engine. A local mechanic who specialises in your car.
Where we'd start with a Kodiaq
Check the oil yourself every few fill-ups for a month, so you can tell the mechanic what it's using rather than guessing. If the gearbox shudders from a stop, get it scanned while it's happening. Clear the recalls on the VIN. And if you're buying one, don't take it without a full service history.