2018 SEAT Arona — MOT failures & pass rate
68,940 MOT tests on the 2018 SEAT Arona are in this dataset, and 87.4% of them passed. Against small SUVs of a similar age (9.9% fail rate), the 2018 Arona comes out 2.7pp worse. Failures cluster in steering, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — steering (4.5%) and tyres (4.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, brake pads and headlamp aim — track rod end alone was recorded 4,043 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.2% once past 120-150k — 3.7× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.1pp more often than petrol ones (14.2% vs 12.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steering | 4.5% | 3,128 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.4% | 3,038 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.6% | 2,506 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 1,494 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.6% | 1,102 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.8% | 548 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 4,043 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,507 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,322 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,142 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 844 |
| 6 | Washers | 809 |
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 | 23.6% | 16,297 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.2% | 13,247 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.8% | 5,359 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.4% | 3,735 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.0% | 1,387 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 1,195 |
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 | 31,110 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 31,021 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 5,961 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 727 | 21.5% |
| 120-150k | 96 | 29.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 54,147 | 12.2% |
| Diesel | 14,793 | 14.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,262 | 6.9% |
| 2022 | 13,199 | 8.2% |
| 2023 | 13,929 | 13.5% |
| 2024 | 14,139 | 16.2% |
| 2025 | 14,411 | 17.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Arona
On a 2018 Arona, steering is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Steering (4.5% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- Tyres (4.4% 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 (3.6% 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.
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 2018 SEAT Aronas pass their MOT?
87.4% of the 68,940 2018 SEAT Arona MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 SEAT Arona?
Steering, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by tyres (4.4%).
Does the 2018 Arona get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 29.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 68,940 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.