MOT performance
SEAT MOT pass rates and common failures
Across 1,108,744 MOT tests of SEAT cars in 2023–2024, 73.9% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, SEATs failed about as often as comparable cars. Of the 10 SEAT models with enough tests, the SEAT Ateca failed least often relative to comparable cars.
1,108,744 MOT tests on 577,726 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 73.9% | ±0.1 pts (95%), n = 1,108,744 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.00× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 8.1% | n = 1,108,744 |
| Average age at test | 7.9 years | n = 1,108,744 |
SEAT models
Every SEAT model with at least 10,000 tests, most-tested first.
| Model | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEAT Ibiza | 388,964 | 66.0% | 1.16× |
| SEAT Leon | 374,342 | 76.7% | 0.86× |
| SEAT Arona | 89,368 | 85.5% | 1.09× |
| SEAT Ateca | 87,288 | 88.6% | 0.70× |
| SEAT Alhambra | 56,200 | 74.2% | 0.94× |
| SEAT Mii | 36,559 | 78.3% | 0.93× |
| SEAT Altea | 31,416 | 58.7% | 1.04× |
| SEAT Tarraco | 14,000 | 85.4% | 0.98× |
| SEAT Toledo | 12,641 | 69.3% | 1.03× |
| SEAT Exeo | 10,122 | 65.0% | 0.87× |
Where SEATs fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 8.0% | +7% |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 8.0% | -17% |
| Tyres | 7.0% | +10% |
| Brakes | 6.5% | +10% |
| Driver's view of the road | 4.5% | +2% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 2.9% | +7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.8% | +5% |
| Steering | 1.7% | +3% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.0% | +20% |
| Road wheels | 0.4% | +8% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.3% | +2% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | -25% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.80% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 2.18% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 1.91% |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 1.84% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 1.64% |
| Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak | Suspension | 1.62% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 1.50% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 1.46% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.38% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 1.35% |
Pass rate by age
| Age at test (years) | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 218,961 | 86.4% | -2% |
| 5-6 | 210,650 | 80.0% | +5% |
| 7-8 | 172,834 | 74.7% | -2% |
| 9-10 | 156,711 | 69.0% | -5% |
| 11-12 | 107,079 | 62.7% | -2% |
| 13-15 | 103,054 | 56.3% | +2% |
| 16+ | 71,039 | 53.7% | +5% |
MOT failures where SEAT stands out
Individual failure items that SEATs record clearly more or less often than cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. All SEAT MOT failure patterns.
- Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak · 2.11× comparable cars
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn · 1.76× comparable cars
- Position lamp: not working · 0.61× comparable cars
Check a specific SEAT
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.