2021 Seat Ateca Technology Evo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,159 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Seat Ateca Technology Evo, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 90.4% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 15.3% in the 60-90k group versus 6.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.7% | 148 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 115 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.7% | 55 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 51 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 39 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 144 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 141 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 48 |
| 4 | Wipers | 34 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 29 |
| 6 | Washers | 26 |
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 | 18.3% | 577 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.2% | 416 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.7% | 402 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.8% | 374 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 95 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 11 |
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 | 1,683 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,383 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 85 | 15.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 68 | 2.9% |
| 2024 | 1,528 | 9.0% |
| 2025 | 1,561 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Ateca Technology Evo
Before buying a 2021 Seat Ateca Technology Evo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.7% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (4.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.7% 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.
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 Ateca Technology Evos pass their MOT?
90.4% of the 3,159 2021 Seat Ateca Technology Evo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Seat Ateca Technology Evo?
Tyres, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.6%).
Does the 2021 Ateca Technology Evo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 15.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,159 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.