Cupra Ateca Vz1 4Drive MOT pass rate & common failures
681 MOT tests on the Cupra Ateca Vz1 4Drive (2021–2023) give it a 91.3% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail at 8.4%, so the Ateca Vz1 4Drive sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.0%) and brakes (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 25 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Ateca Vz1 4Drive model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 354 | 91.2% | 8.8% | Brakes |
| 2022 | 308 | 90.9% | 9.1% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.0% | 27 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.6% | 18 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 16 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 11 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 10 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.3% | 9 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 3 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 25 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 20 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 18 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 11 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 9 |
| 6 | Washers | 7 |
| 7 | Wipers | 4 |
| 8 | Service brake performance | 4 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.3% | 138 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 112 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.0% | 48 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.4% | 30 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 15 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 2 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 441 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 233 | 12.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 176 | 5.7% |
| 2025 | 504 | 9.7% |
What to check before buying a Cupra Ateca Vz1 4Drive
- Tyres (4.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (2.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (2.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Cupra Ateca Vz1 4Drive?
91.3% of the 681 Cupra Ateca Vz1 4Drive MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.7% fail rate, across model years 2021–2023.
What does the Cupra Ateca Vz1 4Drive most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.0% of tests, then brakes (2.6%).
Methodology & source. Based on 681 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.