2017 SEAT Ateca — MOT failures & pass rate
52,839 MOT tests on the 2017 SEAT Ateca are in this dataset, and 90.9% of them passed. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 11.8% of the time, so this is 2.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.4%) and brakes (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 1,459 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.2% versus 5.7%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.7% of the time against 9.8% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.4% | 2,346 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.6% | 1,400 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.3% | 1,232 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 1,154 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 356 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.6% | 318 |
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 | 1,459 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,195 |
| 3 | Wipers | 901 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 859 |
| 5 | Washers | 511 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 441 |
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 | 24.6% | 12,981 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.7% | 11,447 |
| 3 | Other defects | 10.4% | 5,513 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.4% | 2,304 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 1,566 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 331 |
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 | 9,200 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 27,649 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 12,759 | 11.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,705 | 13.0% |
| 120-150k | 415 | 12.8% |
| 150k+ | 111 | 16.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 35,227 | 8.7% |
| Diesel | 17,612 | 9.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,517 | 7.6% |
| 2022 | 10,586 | 8.4% |
| 2023 | 10,599 | 9.1% |
| 2024 | 10,646 | 10.2% |
| 2025 | 10,491 | 10.1% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Ateca
On a 2017 Ateca, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.4% 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.
- Brakes (2.6% 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.
- Visibility (2.3% 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 2017 SEAT Atecas pass their MOT?
90.9% of the 52,839 2017 SEAT Ateca MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 SEAT Ateca?
Tyres, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by brakes (2.6%).
Does the 2017 Ateca get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 0-30k band to 16.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 52,839 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.