SEAT Tarraco years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year
SEAT Tarraco years with MOT pass rates below the average for vehicles first used in the same year: 2020. None is clearly above it. The other 2 years can't be told apart from average.
- Below the average for their first-use year2020
- Above the average for their first-use yearNone
- Can't be told apart from average2019 and 2021
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.
First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 83.2% to 84.8%.
In 2025, 84.0% of the 7,322 initial MOT tests on SEAT Tarraco cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 84.8%. That is about average: the difference from the same-age average is within the margin of error.
Check a specific Tarraco
SEAT Tarraco MOT pass rate by year
| Year | Chart | Testsmedian miles | Passed first time | Against all vehicles that year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021age 4 | 1,11137,400 | 86.8%±2.2 | −0.4 ptsall: 87.2% | |
| 2020age 5 | 2,05344,600 | 84.1%±1.7 | −1.9 ptsall: 86.0% | |
| 2019age 6 | 4,15851,900 | 83.3%±1.2 | −0.2 ptsall: 83.5% |
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 upDoes mileage matter?
87.6% of SEAT Tarraco tests under 30,000 miles passed first time, against 81.5% at 60,000 to 89,999 miles. For all vehicles of the same age and mileage, the figures are 89.7% and 79.7%.
| Miles at the test | Tests | Passed first time | Against all vehicles, same age and mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30,000 | 1,025 | 87.6%±2.2 | −2.1 ptsall: 89.7% |
| 30,000–59,999 | 4,445 | 84.5%±1.1 | 0.0 ptsall: 84.5% |
| 60,000–89,999 | 1,575 | 81.5%±2.0 | +1.8 ptsall: 79.7% |
Against all vehicles of the same age and mileage, Tarraco tests were below average under 30,000 miles and about average at 30,000 to 89,999 miles.
Mileage is only one factor. How a car has been driven and looked after matters too. These figures show an association across all SEAT Tarraco tests in 2025, not what mileage does to a particular car.
Mileage is the odometer reading at the initial test. Each band is compared with all vehicles first used in the same year with a reading in the same band, weighted by this model's own tests in each year. Bands need at least 1,000 tests. Not shown, with fewer than 1,000 tests: 90,000–119,999 and 120,000 or more. Every test had a usable odometer reading. How we count
Common Tarraco problems at the MOT
MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.
Most common MOT failures on the SEAT Tarraco
| Defect | Share of failed tests | All vehicles, same age |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mmTyres | 16.2%189 tests | 10.4% |
| SRS malfunction indicator lamp warning lamp indicates a faultSeat belts and airbags | 14.3%167 tests | 1.0% |
| Brake pads less than 1.5 mm thickBrakes | 12.1%141 tests | 10.6% |
| Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cordsTyres | 12.1%141 tests | 10.6% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp inoperative or indicates a malfunctionNoise, emissions, leaks | 7.4%86 tests | 5.2% |
| Suspension arm pin or bush excessively wornSuspension | 7.3%85 tests | 1.8% |
| Tyre has ply or cords exposedTyres | 5.3%62 tests | 6.4% |
| Wiper does not clear the windscreen effectivelyWindscreen, wipers, mirrors | 5.2%61 tests | 11.7% |
| Brake pads worn down to wear indicatorBrakes | 4.4%51 tests | 1.2% |
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 Tarraco's failed tests in each year. How we count
What to check when viewing a Tarraco
Tyres
- 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 a Tarraco's MOT historyAfter an MOT advisory
Tyres
Of SEAT Tarraco cars that passed their 2024 MOT with a tyre advisory and came back for their next MOT 10–14 months later, 8.0% failed on tyres, against 5.1% of similar cars with nothing noted. Based on 1,081 and 3,498 cars.
Cars not tested again in that window are not included: 13.1% of those with a tyre advisory and 13.1% of the others.
Similar cars are the same model, first-use year and mileage band. Areas are the DVSA's top-level groups, so the later fail may not be the fault that was advised. These figures describe what happened to these cars. They don't show what a repair would have changed.
How we worked this outAll models compared, with the dataSEAT Tarraco questions
Which SEAT Tarraco years have lower MOT pass rates?
Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, these model years have below-average MOT pass rates: 2020. None is clearly above average. 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 Tarraco reliable?
MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 84.0% of initial MOT tests on SEAT Tarraco cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 84.8%. 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 Tarraco problems at the MOT?
The most common failure areas are tyres (in 37.3% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.
What mileage is normal for a 5-year-old SEAT Tarraco?
At their 2025 MOT tests, SEAT Tarraco cars first used in 2020, about 5 years old, had a median of 44,600 miles. Half had more and half had less.
How do I check a specific Tarraco'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 freeWhat MOT data can't tell you about any SEAT Tarraco
Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.
Compare history checksWhat MOT history doesn't showOther SEAT models
- SEAT Ibiza−5.7 pts against the same-age average
- SEAT Leon+1.5 pts against the same-age average
- SEAT Arona−0.5 pts against the same-age average
- SEAT Ateca+4.7 pts against the same-age average
- SEAT Alhambra+1.6 pts against the same-age average
- SEAT Mii+3.1 pts against the same-age average
Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.
All 8 SEAT modelsCars ranked by MOT pass rate, by ageSource: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all SEAT Tarraco cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count