2021 SEAT Arona — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 SEAT Arona passed 91.1% of its 26,073 recorded MOT tests. Against small SUVs of a similar age (7.2% fail rate), the 2021 Arona comes out 1.7pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.4%) and tyres (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, brake discs and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 808 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.3% in the 0-30k band and 16.1% in the 90-120k band, a 8.8-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 21.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.4% | 1,140 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.4% | 875 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.9% | 493 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 491 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.1% | 278 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 90 |
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 | 808 |
| 2 | Brake discs | 520 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 449 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 379 |
| 5 | Washers | 352 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 238 |
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 | 21.2% | 5,519 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.9% | 4,658 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.5% | 1,693 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.9% | 492 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.1% | 283 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.0% | 263 |
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 | 16,891 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 8,308 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 828 | 16.6% |
| 90-120k | 31 | 16.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 532 | 8.8% |
| 2024 | 12,833 | 9.0% |
| 2025 | 12,694 | 8.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Arona
On a 2021 Arona, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (4.4% 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 (3.4% 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.
- Visibility (1.9% 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
How many 2021 SEAT Aronas pass their MOT?
91.1% of the 26,073 2021 SEAT Arona MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 SEAT Arona?
Brakes, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by tyres (3.4%).
Does the 2021 Arona get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 16.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 26,073 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.