2020 Skoda Kodiaq 1.5L Petrol · GX70 BHA

The defining mechanical story on this Kodiaq centres on its braking system, which has now progressed from a thin-pad advisory in late 2023 to a genuine major failure at the most recent test. On 24 November 2025 the vehicle failed the MOT outright because the front brake pads had worn down to the wear indicator, triggering the on-dash brake warning light, while a constant amber tyre pressure monitoring system warning was also flagged. It is worth noting that the same date also carries a separate PASS entry with no defects recorded, which indicates the failure was identified and rectified the same day before a subsequent re-test was successfully completed. Even so, the trajectory is telling: the pads were already noted as wearing thin two years earlier, and within a 24-month window they had worn to the metal-on-metal stage. This pattern points to either aggressive pad material, a binding or sticking front caliper that has been accelerating wear, or simply that the pads were not replaced when the 2023 advisory first appeared. Against an age of roughly six years, the 58,743-mile recorded odometer reading works out at approximately 9,800 miles annually, which sits squarely in line with typical UK mileage for a family SUV of this vintage. There are no significant gaps in the MOT testing history within the supplied records, suggesting the car has been in continuous use rather than laid up, and the mileage progression between the 2023 and 2025 tests is consistent with steady, regular driving rather than any sudden spikes or unusually low accumulation. Mechanically, this mileage profile is the friendliest possible for a Kodiaq of this generation: it implies that the engine, dual-clutch or torque converter automatic, Haldex-based all-wheel-drive system, and suspension have all been worked consistently without being thrashed, but it is also high enough that major consumables such as brake discs, tyres, drive belts and coolant are now firmly in their second-cycle replacement territory. A prospective buyer should focus the test drive very specifically on the braking system that caused the recent failure. After the car has been driven for several miles to reach full operating temperature, perform a series of moderate to firm stops from around 30 mph and listen for any metallic grinding, squeal, or shudder through the pedal that would suggest the new pads have not been properly bedded in or that a caliper slider has seized. With the wheel turned at full lock, accelerate gently in a quiet car park and listen for a clonking or scraping noise from the front hub area, which on Kodiaqs of this era is a known indicator of worn drop links or anti-roll bar bushes that are not flagged on MOT but commonly accompany high front-brake usage. Pull the car at low speed with light steering input and release the wheel to check for any residual pulling or self-centring delay, which would point to uneven pad deposition on the front discs after the recent pad swap. Inspect the inner and outer faces of the front discs for a pronounced lip on the outer edge; if the lip is larger than roughly 1.5 mm the discs were likely not renewed alongside the pads and may now be warped. Finally, although the November 2025 retest was passed clean, the constant amber TPMS warning recorded at the same visit is a detail worth investigating before purchase. Tyre pressure sensors on Kodiaqs of this age commonly fail due to battery depletion within the sensor unit itself, rather than any actual tyre pressure issue, and replacement requires a dedicated diagnostic tool to pair new sensors to the vehicle. During your inspection, confirm whether the warning light is currently extinguished on the dashboard and verify that all four tyres are correctly inflated to the pressures printed on the driver door shut. Also carry out a stationary cold-start and listen for any timing chain rattle from the front of the 1.5 or 2.0-litre engine for the first second or two, as Kodiaqs in this mileage bracket are approaching the territory where chain stretch first becomes audible. Walk around the vehicle on level ground and look underneath for any fresh oil staining around the rear differential or Haldex coupling, and push down firmly on each front wing to confirm the suspension settles once and stays settled, without bouncing, which would indicate worn front dampers typical of higher-mileage examples.