SEAT Exeo MOT pass rate & common failures
The SEAT Exeo appears in 32,595 MOT tests spanning model years 2005–2017, and 78.2% of them passed. That is 2.2 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.7%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.1%) and suspension (8.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and position lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 1,966 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.0% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.5% fail against 21.9% for diesel, a 3.4-point gap across 32,595 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Exeo model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 4,499 | 78.2% | 21.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 8,837 | 77.3% | 22.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 9,970 | 77.5% | 22.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 6,190 | 79.5% | 20.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 3,089 | 79.8% | 20.2% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 3,282 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.7% | 2,841 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.9% | 2,240 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.8% | 2,208 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 1,132 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.2% | 1,030 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 778 |
| 8 | Visibility | 2.3% | 734 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,966 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,710 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,313 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,263 |
| 5 | Flexible brake hoses | 1,167 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 1,090 |
| 7 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,009 |
| 8 | Brake pads | 565 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 28.9% | 9,413 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.5% | 9,306 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.9% | 8,447 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.4% | 5,028 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.6% | 2,475 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 2,406 |
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 | 92 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 984 | 14.1% |
| 60-90k | 4,719 | 18.3% |
| 90-120k | 8,775 | 20.4% |
| 120-150k | 8,985 | 22.8% |
| 150k+ | 9,032 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 31,899 | 21.9% |
| Petrol | 696 | 18.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,303 | 19.2% |
| 2022 | 6,983 | 20.5% |
| 2023 | 6,669 | 22.3% |
| 2024 | 6,109 | 23.3% |
| 2025 | 5,531 | 24.9% |
What to check before buying a SEAT Exeo
- Lighting & signalling (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.7% 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 (6.9% 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 Exeo?
78.2% of the 32,595 SEAT Exeo MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 21.8% fail rate, across model years 2005–2017.
What does the SEAT Exeo most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.1% of tests, then suspension (8.7%).
How much does mileage affect Exeo MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 25.0% for 150k+, a 13.1-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Exeo more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 18.5% of the time against 21.9% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 32,595 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.