SEAT Cordoba MOT pass rate & common failures
1,478 MOT tests on the SEAT Cordoba (1994–2021) give it a 71.0% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.0% of the time, so this is 2.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.2% of all tests — 5.2 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, stop lamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 103 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.4% versus 23.3%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 28.8% of the time against 29.3% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.5% in 2021 to 27.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Cordoba model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 34 | 73.5% | 26.5% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1997 | 38 | 73.7% | 26.3% | Suspension |
| 1998 | 154 | 74.0% | 26.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 122 | 65.6% | 34.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 60 | 73.3% | 26.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 386 | 70.2% | 29.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 303 | 70.0% | 30.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 265 | 72.1% | 27.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 52 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 269 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.0% | 192 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.5% | 170 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 136 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 94 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.3% | 93 |
| 7 | Visibility | 6.3% | 93 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.9% | 58 |
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 | 103 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 94 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 90 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 77 |
| 5 | Joints | 68 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 67 |
| 7 | Wipers | 60 |
| 8 | Rbt (sp) | 59 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.1% | 475 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.0% | 399 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.3% | 389 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 255 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.4% | 228 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.9% | 221 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 172 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 358 | 29.9% |
| 90-120k | 331 | 30.8% |
| 120-150k | 272 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 315 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 850 | 28.8% |
| Petrol | 628 | 29.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 485 | 30.5% |
| 2022 | 359 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 275 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 204 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 155 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a SEAT Cordoba
- Lighting & signalling (18.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (11.5% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the SEAT Cordoba?
71.0% of the 1,478 SEAT Cordoba MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 29.0% fail rate, across model years 1994–2021.
What does the SEAT Cordoba most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.2% of tests, then suspension (13.0%).
How much does mileage affect Cordoba MOT results?
Fail rates run at 23.3% for cars in the 30-60k band and 31.4% for 150k+, a 8.2-point difference.
Is the diesel or petrol Cordoba more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the diesel fails 28.8% of the time against 29.3% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,478 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.