MOT failures by make
SEAT MOT failures for “Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak”
SEAT cars failed their MOT on “Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak” in 1.62% of 1,108,744 tests in 2023–2024 (17,909 tests) — 2.1 times as often as comparable cars of the same age, mileage and fuel, which would have failed on it in about 0.76% of tests. It is the number 6 most common failure item on SEATs.
Data to 2024-12-30 · Page updated 2026-09-28 · Publisher: 73 Auto
- SEAT tests failing on it
- 1.62%
- 17,909 of 1,108,744 tests, 2023–2024
- Comparable cars
- 0.76%
- national rate at the same age, mileage and fuel
- Observed ÷ expected
- 2.11×
- 73 Auto analysis · rank #6 for SEAT
How unusual this is for the make
Across all MOT failures, SEATs fail 0% less often than comparable cars. On this item the gap is 2.12× wider than that overall level, so it is a genuine SEAT pattern rather than a reflection of how often the make fails in general. It is a major defect in the suspension part of the test. Nationally it appears on 0.84% of MOT tests.
SEAT models and “Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak”
The SEAT Ibiza is most affected (2.72× comparable cars); the SEAT Mii least (0.27×). Not every model follows the make: the pattern is concentrated in some models. Model rows compare with cars of the same age and fuel.
| Model | Tests | Failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEAT Ibiza | 388,964 | 2.28% | 2.72× |
| SEAT Leon | 374,342 | 1.91% | 2.71× |
| SEAT Toledo | 12,641 | 1.59% | 2.22× |
| SEAT Altea | 31,416 | 2.51% | 1.80× |
| SEAT Ateca | 87,288 | 0.36% | 1.24× |
| SEAT Alhambra | 56,200 | 0.49% | 0.69× |
| SEAT Arona | 89,368 | 0.10% | 0.44× |
| SEAT Tarraco | 14,000 | 0.11% | 0.41× |
| SEAT Exeo | 10,122 | 0.51% | 0.39× |
| SEAT Mii | 36,559 | 0.18% | 0.27× |
By age at test
The difference is largest at 5-6 years old: 0.99% of SEAT tests against 0.37% for comparable cars.
| Age (years) | SEAT tests | SEAT | Comparable cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 218,961 | 0.56% | 0.22% |
| 5-6 | 210,650 | 0.99% | 0.37% |
| 7-8 | 172,834 | 1.82% | 0.71% |
| 9-10 | 156,711 | 2.19% | 0.95% |
| 11-12 | 107,079 | 3.42% | 1.36% |
| 13-15 | 103,054 | 3.04% | 1.74% |
| 16+ | 71,039 | 1.42% | 1.50% |
Other SEAT MOT faults that stand out
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn · 1.76× comparable cars
- Position lamp: not working · 0.61× comparable cars
Limitations
Official data: DVSA's anonymised MOT results (2023–2024), class 4 initial tests, cars at least 2.5 years old. 73 Auto analysis: the comparison rate applies the national rate of this item for each test's own age, mileage band and fuel to the SEAT tests. An MOT result reflects maintenance, mileage and how a car is used as well as its design, so this is not a measure of which make is most reliable. The wording of the defect is DVSA's.
Has this SEAT failed on it before?
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UK number plate or 17-character VIN
Where these figures come from
- Anonymised MOT tests and results (2023 and 2024) — Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Open Government Licence v3.0.
Figures labelled as 73 Auto estimates are our own analysis of these sources, set out in the methodology and data sources. To report a factual error, see corrections.