2012 SEAT Exeo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,190 MOT tests, the 2012 SEAT Exeo recorded a 79.5% pass rate. That is 2.2 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 18.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.2%) and suspension (7.9%) 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 tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 393 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.9% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 510 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.9% | 490 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.5% | 405 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.1% | 380 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.9% | 178 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 151 |
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 | 393 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 265 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 211 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 206 |
| 5 | Flexible brake hoses | 201 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 183 |
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 | 27.0% | 1,672 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.7% | 1,654 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.4% | 1,263 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.9% | 734 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 436 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.0% | 430 |
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 | 42 | 11.9% |
| 30-60k | 253 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,267 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,882 | 20.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,544 | 20.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,201 | 24.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,095 | 20.5% |
| Petrol | 95 | 20.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,338 | 17.3% |
| 2022 | 1,300 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 1,266 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 1,176 | 21.9% |
| 2025 | 1,110 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Exeo
On a 2012 Exeo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.9% 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.
- Tyres (6.5% 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.
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 2012 SEAT Exeos pass their MOT?
79.5% of the 6,190 2012 SEAT Exeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 SEAT Exeo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by suspension (7.9%).
Does the 2012 Exeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.9% in the 0-30k band to 24.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,190 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.