In 2025, 39,142 SEAT Ateca cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 87% passed first time, compared with 82% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Ateca better than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 52 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, 88% of Atecas passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 9 years, that figure is 86% (all cars: 75%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 5 to 9 years.
SEAT Ateca All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | Ateca passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 1,466 | 88% | 88% | 31,322 |
| 4 years | 1,167 | 85% | 87% | 37,362 |
| 5 years | 5,184 | 89% | 86% | 40,712 |
| 6 years | 10,776 | 88% | 84% | 49,526 |
| 7 years | 8,928 | 86% | 81% | 59,088 |
| 8 years | 9,502 | 86% | 78% | 66,902 |
| 9 years | 1,881 | 86% | 75% | 75,017 |
What fails most on a SEAT Ateca
The area that lets the Ateca down most, relative to other cars, is plates and VIN: 0.3% of tests failed on it, 8.1 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on suspension and lights and electrics.
Share of Ateca tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 2.9% |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | Brakes | 2.4% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 2.2% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 1.7% |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | Visibility | 1.0% |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 1.0% |
What to check when buying a used Ateca
Based on where the Ateca fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Plates and VIN: Check the number plates are legal and the VIN matches the V5C logbook. 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 Ateca
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a AtecaFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a SEAT Ateca?
In 2025, 87% of SEAT Ateca cars passed their MOT first time, across 39,142 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 82%.
What do SEAT Ateca cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (2.9% of tests); a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm (2.4% of tests); a tyre seriously damaged (2.2% of tests).
Other SEAT models
SEAT Ibiza (66%), SEAT Leon (74%), SEAT Arona (83%), 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.