2022 SEAT Arona — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2022 SEAT Arona passed 91.7% of its 7,628 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.7 percentage points worse than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 6.6%. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.7%) and brakes (3.3%) 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 washers — brake pads alone was recorded 168 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.4% once past 60-90k — 2.9× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 16.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.7% | 279 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.3% | 254 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 143 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.4% | 109 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.4% | 106 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 22 |
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 | 168 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 134 |
| 3 | Washers | 85 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 82 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 68 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 57 |
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 | 16.7% | 1,272 |
| 2 | Tyres | 14.8% | 1,126 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.7% | 437 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.1% | 164 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 157 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.5% | 38 |
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 | 5,714 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,806 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 98 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 342 | 6.1% |
| 2025 | 7,281 | 8.4% |
What to check before buying a 2022 Arona
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.7% 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 (3.3% 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 (1.9% 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 2022 SEAT Aronas pass their MOT?
91.7% of the 7,628 2022 SEAT Arona MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 SEAT Arona?
Tyres, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by brakes (3.3%).
Does the 2022 Arona get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 19.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,628 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.