2021 Seat Ateca Xperience Evo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,059 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Seat Ateca Xperience Evo, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 92.5% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.1% | 43 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 21 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.8% | 19 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 15 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 13 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 6 |
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 | 39 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 15 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 12 |
| 5 | Washers | 11 |
| 6 | Wipers | 9 |
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 | 17.3% | 183 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.3% | 141 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.2% | 140 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.6% | 102 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 37 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 2 |
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 | 610 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 430 | 9.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 523 | 6.9% |
| 2025 | 510 | 8.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Ateca Xperience Evo
Before buying a 2021 Seat Ateca Xperience Evo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.1% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (4.1% 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 (2.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Xperience Evos pass their MOT?
92.5% of the 1,059 2021 Seat Ateca Xperience Evo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Seat Ateca Xperience Evo?
Tyres, recorded in 4.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.0%).
Does the 2021 Ateca Xperience Evo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 9.5% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,059 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.