2021 Seat Ateca Xperience Lux Evo Sa — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 935 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Seat Ateca Xperience Lux Evo Sa, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 92.9% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.9% | 36 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 30 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.5% | 14 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.1% | 10 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 7 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 13 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 10 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 9 |
| 5 | Wipers | 6 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 5 |
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 | 23.3% | 218 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.6% | 90 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.1% | 85 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.7% | 72 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 31 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 5 |
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 | 598 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 317 | 11.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 31 | 6.5% |
| 2024 | 457 | 6.3% |
| 2025 | 447 | 7.8% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Ateca Xperience Lux Evo Sa
Before buying a 2021 Seat Ateca Xperience Lux Evo Sa, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.9% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (3.9% 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 (3.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.5% 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 Xperience Lux Evo Sas pass their MOT?
92.9% of the 935 2021 Seat Ateca Xperience Lux Evo Sa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Seat Ateca Xperience Lux Evo Sa?
Tyres, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.2%).
Does the 2021 Ateca Xperience Lux Evo Sa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 11.0% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 935 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.