2018 SEAT Ateca MOT pass rate: 89.4% (26,526 tests)
Is the 2018 Ateca getting worse?
Pass rate of 2018-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 90.8% +2.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 88.8% +2.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 88.5% +3.8 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2018 Ateca
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 1,790 | 39.4% |
| 2 | Brakes | 1,148 | 25.3% |
| 3 | Suspension | 496 | 10.9% |
| 4 | Visibility | 351 | 7.7% |
| 5 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 295 | 6.5% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 177 | 3.9% |
All Ateca years compared
| 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 (this page) | 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 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: SEAT Ateca years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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FAQs
Is a 2018 SEAT Ateca reliable?
2018-registered examples passed 89.4% of their MOT tests (26,526 tests, 2023–2025), +3.0 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 8 years old with a median 47,942 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2018 Ateca?
The median tested example shows 47,942 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.