MOT pass rates / SEAT
SEAT MOT pass rates and common failures
SEAT cars passed 73.6% of their MOTs first time in 2024, across 473,442 class-4 initial tests and 21 model groups. That is above the 71.2% UK average, and ranks SEAT 26th of 59 makes in the dataset.
Pass rates track age more strongly than badge: an older SEAT is compared here against older cars of every other make, so read the age table below before drawing conclusions about the brand.
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What SEAT cars fail on
The items most often behind a first-test failure across SEAT model groups, as a share of SEAT tests. DVSA publishes each model group's six most common categories, so this ranks the biggest published causes rather than every possible one.
- Condition — 4.2% of SEAT tests. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Headlamp Aim — 3.6% of SEAT tests. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Tread Depth — 2.8% of SEAT tests. Tyres below the 1.6mm legal limit. Budget for tyres, and treat it as a sign of how the car was maintained.
- Brake Performance — 2.4% of SEAT tests. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
- Suspension Arms — 2.2% of SEAT tests. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.
- Mechanical Brake Components — 1.7% of SEAT tests. Worn discs, pads or callipers. Routine wear, but it should be priced into the deal.
- Washers — 1.6% of SEAT tests. Empty or blocked washers. Trivial, but again a sign of the last owner's care.
- Exhaust Emissions — 1.4% of SEAT tests. The car exceeded its emissions limits. Can be a sensor or a service, but on a diesel it can also mean an expensive filter or catalyst.
SEAT MOT pass rate by age
| Age at test | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 119,417 | 86.5% |
| 6–9 years | 170,615 | 76.9% |
| 10–14 years | 132,890 | 65.1% |
| 15–30 years | 50,445 | 54.6% |
SEAT models by MOT pass rate
| Model | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Ibiza | 165,826 | 66.1% |
| Leon | 149,433 | 75.4% |
| Ateca | 33,704 | 88% |
| Arona | 32,666 | 84.7% |
| Alhambra | 26,063 | 74.2% |
| MII | 16,411 | 76.9% |
| Altea | 11,313 | 58.2% |
| Tarraco | 6,216 | 84.6% |
| Toledo | 5,670 | 69.1% |
| Exeo | 4,290 | 64.1% |
| Leon FR TSI EVO | 4,236 | 90.1% |
| Leon SE Dynamic TSI EVO | 3,162 | 87.6% |
| Leon FR Black Edition TSI EVO | 2,075 | 85.3% |
| Arona FR Ecotsi | 1,988 | 86.3% |
| Arosa | 1,855 | 57.7% |
| Ibiza FR MPI | 1,736 | 85.3% |
| Ateca SE Technology TSI EVO | 1,696 | 87.4% |
| Leon FR PHEV S-A | 1,461 | 87.1% |
| MII EV | 1,415 | 87.4% |
| Ateca SE Technology TSI EVO SA | 1,180 | 88.8% |
| Ateca Xperience TSI EVO S-A | 1,046 | 91.2% |
Methodology and limitations
MOT outcomes describe testable items at the time of inspection. They are not a measure of overall mechanical reliability.
Scope: Class 4 normal initial MOT tests completed in 2024. Models require at least 1,000 qualifying tests. Duplicate source rows are removed using official DVSA test IDs.
Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published 2025-05-23 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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