2023 SEAT Ateca — MOT failures & pass rate
526 MOT tests on the 2023 SEAT Ateca are in this dataset, and 93.2% of them passed. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 4.9% of the time, so this is 2.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.6%) and lighting & signalling (1.9%) 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 headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 16 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 11.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.6% | 19 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 10 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.7% | 9 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.3% | 7 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 4 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.8% | 4 |
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 | 16 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 11 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
| 4 | Washers | 8 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 5 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 2 |
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 | 11.0% | 58 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.2% | 43 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.2% | 38 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.8% | 36 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 11 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 1 |
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 | 342 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 154 | 9.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 418 | 6.7% |
| Diesel | 108 | 7.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 48 | 8.3% |
| 2025 | 463 | 6.7% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Ateca
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.6% 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 (1.9% 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 2023 SEAT Atecas pass their MOT?
93.2% of the 526 2023 SEAT Ateca MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 SEAT Ateca?
Tyres, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.9%).
Does the 2023 Ateca get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 9.7% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 526 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.