2020 SEAT Arona — MOT failures & pass rate
35,587 MOT tests on the 2020 SEAT Arona are in this dataset, and 91.2% of them passed. That is effectively the same as small SUVs of a similar age (7.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (3.7%) and tyres (3.6%) 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 brake discs — brake pads alone was recorded 1,010 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.1% versus 7.1%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.8% of the time against 9.2% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.7% of tests failed in 2022 against 10.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 3.7% | 1,307 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.6% | 1,281 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 584 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.5% | 545 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 261 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 227 |
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 | 1,010 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 585 |
| 3 | Brake discs | 459 |
| 4 | Washers | 425 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 386 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 368 |
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 | 21.1% | 7,528 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.3% | 6,854 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.7% | 2,387 |
| 4 | Steering | 1.9% | 683 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 595 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.5% | 525 |
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 | 22,492 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 12,073 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 925 | 12.8% |
| 90-120k | 86 | 15.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 34,564 | 8.8% |
| Diesel | 1,023 | 9.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 567 | 6.7% |
| 2023 | 11,917 | 8.1% |
| 2024 | 11,447 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 11,649 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Arona
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 3.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (3.7% 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 (3.6% 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 (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 2020 SEAT Aronas pass their MOT?
91.2% of the 35,587 2020 SEAT Arona MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 SEAT Arona?
Brakes, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by tyres (3.6%).
Does the 2020 Arona get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 15.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 35,587 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.