2010 SEAT Exeo — MOT failures & pass rate
8,837 MOT tests on the 2010 SEAT Exeo are in this dataset, and 77.3% of them passed. That is 2.0 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.2%) and suspension (9.2%) 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 520 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 25.7% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 989 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.2% | 812 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.1% | 626 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.0% | 617 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 405 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.1% | 360 |
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 | 520 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 511 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 389 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 377 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 377 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 333 |
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 | 30.8% | 2,719 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.9% | 2,647 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.6% | 2,527 |
| 4 | Other defects | 20.0% | 1,771 |
| 5 | Steering | 10.0% | 885 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 707 |
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 | 192 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 847 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,102 | 20.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,666 | 23.8% |
| 150k+ | 3,014 | 25.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,479 | 22.9% |
| Petrol | 358 | 17.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,018 | 20.3% |
| 2022 | 1,910 | 21.9% |
| 2023 | 1,815 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 1,658 | 24.1% |
| 2025 | 1,436 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Exeo
On a 2010 Exeo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.2% 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 (7.1% 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 2010 SEAT Exeos pass their MOT?
77.3% of the 8,837 2010 SEAT Exeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 SEAT Exeo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by suspension (9.2%).
Does the 2010 Exeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 30-60k band to 25.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,837 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.