2018 SEAT Toledo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 SEAT Toledo passed 86.7% of its 6,559 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 10.4% of the time, so this is 2.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.4%) and suspension (4.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and wipers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 265 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.0% in the 0-30k band and 18.3% in the 150k+ band, a 10.3-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.2pp more often than petrol ones (15.3% vs 13.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.4% | 419 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.5% | 294 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 177 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 170 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.3% | 151 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 62 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 265 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 150 |
| 3 | Wipers | 145 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 84 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 83 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 80 |
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 | 26.8% | 1,758 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.6% | 1,088 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.0% | 918 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 386 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 182 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 122 |
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 | 2,390 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,416 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 760 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 368 | 16.9% |
| 120-150k | 243 | 14.0% |
| 150k+ | 382 | 18.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,755 | 13.1% |
| Diesel | 804 | 15.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,282 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 1,313 | 11.1% |
| 2023 | 1,339 | 14.7% |
| 2024 | 1,302 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 1,323 | 17.8% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Toledo
On a 2018 Toledo, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.4% 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.
- Suspension (4.5% 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 (2.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2018 SEAT Toledos pass their MOT?
86.7% of the 6,559 2018 SEAT Toledo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 SEAT Toledo?
Tyres, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by suspension (4.5%).
Does the 2018 Toledo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 18.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,559 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.