2013 SEAT Exeo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 SEAT Exeo passed 79.8% of its 3,089 recorded MOT tests. Against executive cars of a similar age (16.9% fail rate), the 2013 Exeo comes out 3.3pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.7%) and lighting & signalling (7.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 205 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.0% in the 30-60k band and 24.6% in the 150k+ band, a 8.6-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.7% | 238 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 234 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.3% | 193 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.2% | 191 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.2% | 68 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.9% | 58 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 205 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 139 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 136 |
| 4 | Flexible brake hoses | 101 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 85 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 75 |
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 | 26.6% | 820 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.6% | 791 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.0% | 586 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.4% | 291 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 178 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.7% | 146 |
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 | 213 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 744 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 890 | 19.2% |
| 120-150k | 664 | 22.3% |
| 150k+ | 566 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 654 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 645 | 18.3% |
| 2023 | 630 | 20.5% |
| 2024 | 585 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 575 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Exeo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.3% 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 2013 SEAT Exeos pass their MOT?
79.8% of the 3,089 2013 SEAT Exeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 SEAT Exeo?
Suspension, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.6%).
Does the 2013 Exeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.0% in the 30-60k band to 24.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,089 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.