SEAT Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems by model

Free SEAT vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.

  • 78% MOT pass rate (UK 77%)
  • 10,538 SEATs checked

SEAT reg check

Example: AB12 CDE (Free instant lookup)

Free MOT, mileage and tax check by reg or VIN. Full car history check from £3.99.

Full SEAT history check from £3.99

The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full SEAT car check:

  • Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
  • Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
  • Police stolen marker
  • High risk register
  • Previous keepers and last change
  • Plate and colour changes
  • Scrapped, imported or exported
  • Mileage anomaly check
Check a SEAT by reg → See a sample full report Prices and bundles

£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.

SEAT car check by model

MOT pass rate of each SEAT model, all its versions included; the line marks the UK average (77%). Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.

  • SEAT Leon 5,002 vehicles checked 80% Top failure area: lights and indicators SEAT Leon car check →
  • SEAT Ibiza 3,568 vehicles checked 75% Top failure area: lights and indicators SEAT Ibiza car check →
  • SEAT Alhambra 430 vehicles checked 79% Top failure area: lights and indicators
  • SEAT Ateca 373 vehicles checked 89% Top failure area: tyres
  • SEAT Arona 354 vehicles checked 87% Top failure area: tyres
  • SEAT Altea 293 vehicles checked
  • SEAT Exeo 136 vehicles checked
  • SEAT Toledo 129 vehicles checked
  • SEAT MII 103 vehicles checked
  • SEAT Tarraco 86 vehicles checked
  • SEAT Arosa 36 vehicles checked
  • SEAT Taracco 20 vehicles checked

Free SEAT MOT History and Mileage Data

What the MOT records of 10,538 SEAT vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.

  • 78%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 8,000typical miles a year
  • 3.4%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 112,713MOT tests analysed
  • 2010–2017built (middle half)
  • 59%petrol; 39% diesel

SEAT common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on SEAT vehicles, as a share of all their MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once).

Top 20 SEAT MOT failures

Reasons the car failed its MOT.

  1. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.5%
  2. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively1.5%
  3. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid1.4%
  4. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.4%
  5. Coil spring fractured or broken1.3%
  6. Position lamp not working1.2%
  7. Headlamp aim too low1.2%
  8. Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak1.1%
  9. Stop lamp not working1.0%
  10. Parking brake efficiency below requirements1.0%
Show all 20
  1. Tyre has ply or cords exposed1.0%
  2. Headlamp not working on dipped beam0.9%
  3. Headlamp aim too high0.8%
  4. Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect0.8%
  5. Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.8%
  6. Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.7%
  7. Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt0.6%
  8. Service brake excessively binding0.6%
  9. Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt0.6%
  10. Registration plate lamp not working0.6%

Top 20 SEAT MOT advisories

Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.

  1. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge8.9%
  2. Brake pad wearing thin6.2%
  3. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened6.1%
  4. Tyre worn close to the legal limit4.1%
  5. Shock absorbers has light misting of oil3.8%
  6. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing3.0%
  7. Oil leak, but not excessive2.6%
  8. Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.0%
  9. Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect2.0%
  10. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread1.7%
Show all 20
  1. Coil spring corroded1.4%
  2. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement1.4%
  3. Nail in tyre1.4%
  4. Service brake binding but not excessively1.4%
  5. Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated1.3%
  6. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.2%
  7. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources1.2%
  8. Play in steering rack inner joint1.2%
  9. Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases1.1%
  10. Brake disc worn, but not excessively1.0%

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 10,538 SEAT vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp (112,713 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Before buying a used SEAT

The MOT record shows condition on the day of the test. Run these checks on the SEAT you're looking at too:

SEAT MOT questions

Is a SEAT car check free?

The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any SEAT are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.

What is the most common MOT failure on the SEAT?

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm: found at 2.5% of the SEAT MOT tests we analysed. By area, lights and indicators items appear in 39% of failed tests.

What is the SEAT MOT pass rate?

78% of 112,713 MOT tests on 10,538 SEAT vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.

What are the common problems with the SEAT?

Going by its MOT records, the SEAT's most common failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.5% of tests); windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (1.5% of tests); windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (1.4% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.

What is the most common MOT advisory on the SEAT?

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge: noted at 8.9% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.

How many miles a year is a SEAT typically driven?

About 8,000 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 3.4% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.

Which SEAT model passes its MOT most often?

Among SEAT models with at least 300 vehicles checked, the SEAT Ateca has the highest pass rate (89%) and the SEAT Ibiza the lowest (75%).

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