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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2016 SEAT Ateca MOT fail rate and common faults

How SEAT Ateca cars first used in 2016 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 7,616 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 9 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 9 (n=1,889)14.0%
All cars at 9 years (n=9,949,012)27.1%
Difference−13.2 pts
MOT tests of 2016 cars, 2022 to 20257,616

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 9 years old, SEAT Ateca cars first used in 2016 failed 14.0% of MOTs (1,889 tests), 13.2 points below the 27.1% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 6 to 9 years old, the fail rate moved from 10.2% to 14.0%.

MOT fail rate by test year

SEAT Ateca cars first used in 2016: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
20226 years10.2%1,93117.8%−7.7 pts
20237 years12.9%1,90120.6%−7.8 pts
20248 years13.8%1,89523.8%−10.0 pts
20259 years14.0%1,88927.1%−13.2 pts

Most common faults at 9 years

These figures cover all SEAT Ateca MOTs at 9 years: cars first used in 2016, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=1,889). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear1.92.5
Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear1.12.0

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=1,889). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear17.016.4
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened14.69.2
Brake pads wearing thin Wear9.18.3
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear6.28.5
Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt6.12.3
Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement4.84.9
Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view2.92.2
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively2.52.7
Shock absorber misting oil2.43.1
Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre2.31.9

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=1,889). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 9 years

These figures cover all SEAT Ateca MOTs at 9 years: cars first used in 2016, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=1,889). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Diesel60.2%13.6%1,13728.3%76,418 miles

Car tax rules for a 2016 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • Diesel cars first registered from September 2015 usually meet Euro 6, the diesel standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the SEAT Ateca

Other SEAT models first used in 2016

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
SEAT Ibiza (2016)9 years in 202533.3%18,20627.1%
SEAT Leon (2016)9 years in 202520.3%15,65227.1%
SEAT Alhambra (2016)9 years in 202522.7%4,12227.1%
SEAT Mii (2016)9 years in 202525.8%2,24627.1%

More on the SEAT Ateca

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2016 SEAT Ateca cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.