MOT failure data · 2025

SEAT Ateca MOT problems

Across every SEAT Ateca that failed its 2025 MOT, the defect testers recorded most often was tread depth tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, on 16.73% of failure items. The broadest problem area was tyres at 36.98%. These are recorded defects across the model, not a diagnosis of any one car.

Most common SEAT Ateca MOT failures

#	Recorded defect	Area	Share
1	Tread depth tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	16.73%
2	Brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick	Brakes	13.48%
3	Condition has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords	Tyres	9.76%
4	Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak	Suspension	5.38%
5	Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	5.1%
6	Condition has ply or cords exposed	Tyres	4.19%
7	Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively	Visibility	4.12%
8	Headlamp aim too high	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	2.45%
9	Malfunction indicator lamp inoperative or indicates a malfunction	Noise, emissions and leaks	2.45%
10	Brake discs significantly and obviously worn	Brakes	2.32%

Shares are of all recorded failure items for this model, so they sum to less than 100% — a single failed test often records several defects, and the long tail below the top 10 is not shown.

What this means if you are buying one

Use it as a viewing checklist. If you are looking at a SEAT Ateca, these are the areas worth inspecting and worth asking about — and worth reading the car's own MOT history for, since a defect that keeps reappearing as an advisory is a better signal than any model-wide average.

The MOT record also has hard limits: it does not check the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it says nothing about outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen markers or whether the mileage is genuine. Our used SEAT Ateca buying guide covers what to check beyond the MOT.

Checking a specific SEAT Ateca?

Enter its registration for finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history.

Other SEAT models

SEAT Ateca MOT FAQs

What does a SEAT Ateca most commonly fail its MOT on?

The single most recorded defect on SEAT Ateca cars failing their 2025 MOT was "tread depth tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm", appearing on 16.73% of failure items.

Does this mean my SEAT Ateca will fail?

No. This is what testers recorded across every SEAT Ateca that failed in 2025. It shows where this model tends to need attention, not the condition of any individual car. The SEAT Ateca passed 89.82% of its initial tests.

How do I see a specific SEAT Ateca's MOT history?

Enter its registration on our free MOT history check to see that car's own test results, advisories and recorded mileages.

Defect counts from the DVSA MOT Anonymised test-item data for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, failure items only — advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.