2019 SEAT Tarraco — MOT failures & pass rate
18,932 MOT tests on the 2019 SEAT Tarraco are in this dataset, and 88.2% of them passed. Against large SUVs of a similar age (9.8% fail rate), the 2019 Tarraco comes out 2.0pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and seat belts & restraints.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.3%) and brakes (2.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and srs malfunction indicator lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 659 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.7% once past 120-150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 11.6% of the time against 12.0% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.3% | 994 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.8% | 534 |
| 3 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.5% | 475 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 419 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.5% | 286 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 242 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 659 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 540 |
| 3 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 423 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 326 |
| 5 | Wipers | 238 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 216 |
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 | 25.1% | 4,757 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.5% | 3,503 |
| 3 | Other defects | 12.7% | 2,399 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.3% | 1,377 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 561 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 189 |
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 | 6,241 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 10,011 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,322 | 14.9% |
| 90-120k | 291 | 16.2% |
| 120-150k | 51 | 13.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,353 | 11.6% |
| Petrol | 8,579 | 12.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 47 | 4.3% |
| 2022 | 4,719 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 4,756 | 11.2% |
| 2024 | 4,708 | 12.3% |
| 2025 | 4,702 | 12.9% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Tarraco
On a 2019 Tarraco, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
- Brakes (2.8% 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.
- Seat belts & restraints (2.5% of tests): Belt damage or faulty pretensioners — usually straightforward but safety-critical. Typical repair: £50–£300.
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 2019 SEAT Tarracos pass their MOT?
88.2% of the 18,932 2019 SEAT Tarraco MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 SEAT Tarraco?
Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by brakes (2.8%).
Does the 2019 Tarraco get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 13.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,932 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.