SEAT Exeo years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

2,428 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2010–2011 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

No SEAT Exeo year has an MOT pass rate clearly below the average for vehicles first used in the same year. Above it: 2010. The other year can't be told apart from average.

Below the average for their first-use yearNone
Above the average for their first-use year2010
Can't be told apart from average2011

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

61.2%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 59.2% to 63.1%.

SEAT Exeo, all years61.2%
Same-age average, all vehicles60.3%

In 2025, 61.2% of the 2,428 initial MOT tests on SEAT Exeo cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 60.3%. That is about average: the difference from the same-age average is within the margin of error.

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Its own MOT history, free.

SEAT Exeo MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Chart	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2011age 14		1,309137,700	60.2%±2.7	−1.0 ptsall: 61.2%
2010age 15		1,119145,400	62.3%±2.9	+3.0 ptsall: 59.3%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common Exeo problems at the MOT

Share of the 943 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these can add up to more than 100%.

Lights and electrics40.5%
Suspension37.8%
Brakes27.3%
Tyres25.5%
Steering19.3%
Noise, emissions, leaks16.4%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems.

Most common MOT failures on the SEAT Exeo

The defects recorded most often at the 943 failed initial tests on SEAT Exeo cars, all years together, in the DVSA's own words. Each share is of failed tests, and a failed test can have more than one defect.

Defect	Share of failed tests	All vehicles, same age
Coil spring fractured or brokenSuspension	17.1%161 tests	10.5%
Malfunction indicator lamp inoperative or indicates a malfunctionNoise, emissions, leaks	15.2%143 tests	5.0%
Position lamp not workingLights and electrics	13.3%125 tests	13.3%
Flexible brake hoses excessively deterioratedBrakes	8.6%81 tests	0.0%
Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirtSteering	8.4%79 tests	1.0%
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mmTyres	8.3%78 tests	7.4%
Tyre has ply or cords exposedTyres	7.5%71 tests	4.6%
Track rod end ball joint has excessive playSteering	6.8%64 tests	5.3%
Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively wornSuspension	6.6%62 tests	0.3%
Headlamp aim too lowLights and electrics	6.3%59 tests	4.0%

These are failures recorded at initial MOT tests in 2025. Retests are not counted. "All vehicles, same age" is the same defect's share of failed tests for all vehicles first used in the same years, weighted by the Exeo's failed tests in each year. How we count

What to check when viewing an Exeo

Based on the areas where SEAT Exeo MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Lights and electrics
In 40.5% of failed Exeo tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Check the dashboard warning lights come on when the car is switched on and then go out. Ask about any that stay lit.
Suspension
In 37.8% of failed Exeo tests
- Push down hard on each corner. Check the car rises once and settles, not bouncing again and again.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- Check the car sits level when parked on flat ground.
Brakes
In 27.3% of failed Exeo tests
- On a clear road, brake firmly and check the car stops in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.
Tyres
In 25.5% of failed Exeo tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check an Exeo's MOT history

SEAT Exeo questions

Which SEAT Exeo years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, no model year is clearly below average. Above average: 2010. The rest can't be told apart from average. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the SEAT Exeo reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 61.2% of initial MOT tests on SEAT Exeo cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 60.3%. That is about average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common SEAT Exeo problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are lights and electrics (in 40.5% of failed tests), suspension (in 37.8% of failed tests) and brakes (in 27.3% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 15-year-old SEAT Exeo?

At their 2025 MOT tests, SEAT Exeo cars first used in 2010, about 15 years old, had a median of 145,400 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific Exeo's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any SEAT Exeo

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other SEAT models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 10 SEAT models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all SEAT Exeo cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count