2002 SEAT Toledo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 SEAT Toledo passed 73.2% of its 519 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 28.1% of the time, so this is 1.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests against 11.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and track rod end — headlamp aim alone was recorded 33 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 26.0% versus 15.8%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 42.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 81 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.4% | 59 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.4% | 49 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.7% | 35 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 33 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.2% | 27 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 27 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 24 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 23 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 23 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 23 |
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 | 42.8% | 222 |
| 2 | Suspension | 39.1% | 203 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.6% | 133 |
| 4 | Other defects | 19.1% | 99 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.3% | 95 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.2% | 79 |
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 | 38 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 63 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 118 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 138 | 29.7% |
| 150k+ | 154 | 26.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 290 | 27.2% |
| Petrol | 229 | 26.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 174 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 117 | 25.6% |
| 2023 | 97 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 81 | 30.9% |
| 2025 | 50 | 30.0% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Toledo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.4% 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 (9.4% 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 2002 SEAT Toledos pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 519 2002 SEAT Toledo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 SEAT Toledo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by suspension (11.4%).
Does the 2002 Toledo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 30-60k band to 26.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 519 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.