2021 Seat Arona Technology Ecotsi S-A — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,633 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Seat Arona Technology Ecotsi S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, tyres and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 91.5% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 18.6% in the 60-90k group versus 7.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.6% | 75 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.5% | 57 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 35 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.6% | 26 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 23 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 48 |
| 2 | Brake discs | 30 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 30 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 28 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 18 |
| 6 | Washers | 17 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 23.1% | 377 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.4% | 268 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.1% | 100 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 27 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 17 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.9% | 15 |
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 | 1,163 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 427 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 43 | 18.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 30 | 16.7% |
| 2024 | 796 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 805 | 8.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Arona Technology Ecotsi S-A
Before buying a 2021 Seat Arona Technology Ecotsi S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 4.6% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (4.6% 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.
- Tyres (3.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.1% 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
How many 2021 Seat Arona Technology Ecotsi S-As pass their MOT?
91.5% of the 1,633 2021 Seat Arona Technology Ecotsi S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Seat Arona Technology Ecotsi S-A?
Brakes, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by tyres (3.5%).
Does the 2021 Arona Technology Ecotsi S-A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 18.6% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,633 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.