SEAT Ateca MOT pass rate: 89.4% (38,935 tests, 2025)

The SEAT Ateca passed 89.4% of its 38,935 MOT tests in 2025 — 11.9 points above the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 7 years old with 51,838 miles on the clock.

89.4%Pass rate (2025)

38,935MOT tests analysed

51,838 miMedian mileage at test

7 yrsMedian age at test

How the Ateca compares

SEAT Ateca

89.4%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

SEAT average (all models)

78.4%

What fails most on the SEAT Ateca

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the Ateca:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Tyres	2,467	38.3%
2	Brakes	1,468	22.8%
3	Suspension	893	13.9%
4	Visibility	533	8.3%
5	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	525	8.2%
6	Noise, emissions and leaks	293	4.5%

Pre-MOT checklist for Ateca owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Replace smeared wiper blades and top up washer fluid — both are test items
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

Ateca pass rate by registration year

Lower age-adjusted outliers to inspect carefully: 2021. Strongest age-adjusted years: 2016. Full ranking and method: SEAT Ateca years to avoid.

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2016	5,595	89.0%	+7.6 pts	64,234
2017	28,423	89.2%	+5.2 pts	56,217
2018	26,526	89.4%	+3.0 pts	47,942
2019	31,967	91.2%	+2.8 pts	38,496
2020	15,578	91.9%	+2.0 pts	29,699
2021	2,338	88.4%	-2.1 pts	30,780

Check a specific Ateca before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other SEAT models

Ibiza71.6% pass rate · 186,442 tests Leon78.7% pass rate · 160,327 tests Arona85.0% pass rate · 41,799 tests Alhambra78.6% pass rate · 25,888 tests Mii80.9% pass rate · 17,185 tests Altea66.3% pass rate · 11,126 tests Tarraco85.9% pass rate · 6,852 tests Leon Fr TSI Evo90.3% pass rate · 6,005 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a SEAT Ateca?

In 2025, 89.4% of 38,935 first MOT tests on the SEAT Ateca were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the Ateca fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is tyres (38.3% of its recorded defects), followed by brakes.

Is the SEAT Ateca reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 89.4% it performs above the national average at a median age of 7 years and 51,838 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.