2021 Seat Ateca Fr Evo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,827 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Seat Ateca Fr Evo, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 91.6% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.8% | 70 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 45 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.0% | 37 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.5% | 27 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 25 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 53 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 49 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 36 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 27 |
| 5 | Washers | 14 |
| 6 | Wipers | 12 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.9% | 382 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.7% | 287 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.9% | 217 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.4% | 171 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 40 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 6 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,019 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 785 | 10.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 43 | 7.0% |
| 2024 | 902 | 9.1% |
| 2025 | 882 | 7.8% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Ateca Fr Evo
Before buying a 2021 Seat Ateca Fr Evo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.8% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (3.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (2.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2021 Seat Ateca Fr Evos pass their MOT?
91.6% of the 1,827 2021 Seat Ateca Fr Evo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Seat Ateca Fr Evo?
Tyres, recorded in 3.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.5%).
Does the 2021 Ateca Fr Evo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 10.6% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,827 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.