In 2025, 42,129 SEAT Arona cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 83% passed first time, compared with 84% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Arona about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 145 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 3 years old, 91% of Aronas passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 8 years, that figure is 72% (all cars: 78%). It trails the average car at most ages, most noticeably at 8 years (6 points behind).
SEAT Arona All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | Arona passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 1,562 | 91% | 88% | 24,706 |
| 4 years | 2,817 | 88% | 87% | 30,571 |
| 5 years | 10,303 | 87% | 86% | 34,283 |
| 6 years | 14,707 | 83% | 84% | 41,369 |
| 7 years | 12,064 | 76% | 81% | 48,633 |
| 8 years | 625 | 72% | 78% | 51,579 |
What fails most on a SEAT Arona
The area that lets the Arona down most, relative to other cars, is steering: 6.1% of tests failed on it, 2.8 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on suspension and lights and electrics.
Share of Arona tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | Steering | 5.8% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.4% |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | Brakes | 2.9% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 2.0% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 1.8% |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | Visibility | 1.5% |
What to check when buying a used Arona
Based on where the Arona fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Steering: Feel for play or knocking through the wheel, and check power-steering fluid isn’t leaking. More
- Seat belts and airbags: Pull every belt out fully and let it retract, check the buckles latch, and make sure the airbag light goes out after starting. More
- Tyres: Check tread across the whole width (uneven wear hints at alignment or suspension faults), and look for cuts, bulges and mismatched brands. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific Arona
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a AronaFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a SEAT Arona?
In 2025, 83% of SEAT Arona cars passed their MOT first time, across 42,129 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 84%.
What do SEAT Arona cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (5.8% of tests); a tyre seriously damaged (3.4% of tests); a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm (2.9% of tests).
Other SEAT models
SEAT Ibiza (66%), SEAT Leon (74%), SEAT Ateca (87%), SEAT Alhambra (74%). All SEAT models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.