Cupra Formentor V1 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 5 model years and 7,081 tests, the Cupra Formentor V1 passes its MOT 91.3% of the time. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (8.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are tyres, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and suspension (2.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, tread depth and washers — shock absorbers alone was recorded 184 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.5% once past 90-120k — 2.1× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.5% of the time against 9.7% for hybrid.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 1.6% of tests failed in 2023 against 9.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Formentor V1 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,029 | 91.0% | 9.0% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 2,947 | 91.5% | 8.5% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 88 | 93.2% | 6.8% | Visibility |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 320 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.4% | 168 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.2% | 158 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 147 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.3% | 90 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.9% | 64 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 38 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 12 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 184 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 163 |
| 3 | Washers | 127 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 88 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 70 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 53 |
| 7 | Wipers | 46 |
| 8 | Pins and bushes | 33 |
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 | 21.7% | 1,538 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.4% | 738 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.3% | 660 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 408 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 164 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 35 |
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 | 3,827 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,909 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 306 | 13.4% |
| 90-120k | 37 | 13.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,683 | 8.5% |
| Hybrid | 1,398 | 9.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 62 | 1.6% |
| 2024 | 2,025 | 7.6% |
| 2025 | 4,994 | 9.3% |
What to check before buying a Cupra Formentor V1
- Tyres (4.5% 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.
- Suspension (2.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Visibility (2.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 Formentor V1?
91.3% of the 7,081 Cupra Formentor V1 MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.7% fail rate, across model years 2020–2024.
What does the Cupra Formentor V1 most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, then suspension (2.4%).
How much does mileage affect Formentor V1 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 13.5% for 90-120k, a 7.0-point difference.
Is the petrol or hybrid Formentor V1 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 8.5% of the time against 9.7% for the hybrid. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,081 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.