2019 SEAT Arona — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 SEAT Arona passed 90.3% of its 66,028 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small SUVs of a similar age (8.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.3%) and brakes (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 1,622 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.7% in the 0-30k band and 16.1% in the 120-150k band, a 9.4-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 9.3% fail against 11.9% for diesel, a 2.7-point gap across 66,028 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.3% | 2,852 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.2% | 2,129 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 1,049 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.5% | 985 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.1% | 733 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 456 |
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 | 1,622 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,021 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 983 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 833 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 788 |
| 6 | Washers | 731 |
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 | 23.4% | 15,475 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.6% | 12,310 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.7% | 5,067 |
| 4 | Steering | 2.5% | 1,644 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 1,197 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.5% | 992 |
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 | 35,603 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 26,465 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 3,556 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 365 | 17.3% |
| 120-150k | 31 | 16.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 54,807 | 9.3% |
| Diesel | 11,221 | 11.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 773 | 6.1% |
| 2022 | 16,354 | 7.2% |
| 2023 | 16,179 | 8.9% |
| 2024 | 16,104 | 10.3% |
| 2025 | 16,618 | 12.7% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Arona
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.3% 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 (3.2% 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 (1.6% 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 2019 SEAT Aronas pass their MOT?
90.3% of the 66,028 2019 SEAT Arona MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 SEAT Arona?
Tyres, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by brakes (3.2%).
Does the 2019 Arona get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 16.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 66,028 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.