2007 SEAT Toledo — MOT failures & pass rate
869 MOT tests on the 2007 SEAT Toledo are in this dataset, and 69.5% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 26.9% of the time, so this is 3.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (17.3%) and lighting & signalling (14.7%) 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 joints — coil spring alone was recorded 83 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 30.5% versus 24.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 40.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.3% | 150 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 128 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.8% | 120 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 85 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.7% | 58 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.4% | 47 |
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 | 83 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 77 |
| 3 | Joints | 75 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 52 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 50 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 46 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 40.1% | 348 |
| 2 | Tyres | 32.6% | 283 |
| 3 | Brakes | 30.0% | 261 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.7% | 180 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 124 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.3% | 124 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 111 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 264 | 33.3% |
| 120-150k | 287 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 187 | 30.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 250 | 28.8% |
| 2022 | 203 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 176 | 33.0% |
| 2024 | 134 | 31.3% |
| 2025 | 106 | 31.1% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Toledo
On a 2007 Toledo, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (17.3% 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 (14.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.8% 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.
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 2007 SEAT Toledos pass their MOT?
69.5% of the 869 2007 SEAT Toledo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 SEAT Toledo?
Suspension, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.7%).
Does the 2007 Toledo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.3% in the 60-90k band to 30.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 869 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.