2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 SEAT Exeo MOT pass rate and common faults

924 MOT tests in 2024. 68.3% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

106Above average
Passed first time68.3%
Failed or needed repairs31.7%
Typical mileage at test122,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 924 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.6%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm4.2%
    64 marked dangerous
  3. Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.6%
  4. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated3.4%
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.5%
    30 marked dangerous
  6. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.2%
  7. Position lamp: not working1.9%
  8. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.7%
    26 marked dangerous
  9. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn1.7%
  10. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.6%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics13.3%
  2. Brakes13.1%
  3. Suspension11.8%
  4. Tyres10.7%
  5. Steering5.7%
  6. Body & chassis2.9%
  7. Emissions & leaks2.8%
  8. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)1.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.8%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened14.6%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn8.9%
  4. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated7.9%
  5. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened6.1%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 SEAT Exeo?

In 2024, 68.3% of 2012 SEAT Exeo cars passed their MOT first time, across 924 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 SEAT Exeo?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2012 SEAT Exeo reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 106, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).