Makes › SEAT › Exeo

SEAT Exeo reliability

B · Good

MOT pass rates and common problems from 47,311 MOT tests of cars first registered 2009–2013.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
68.3%pass first time
+7.1 ptsvs typical car
Beats 77%of cars
47,311MOT tests

Verdict

The SEAT Exeo passes its MOT first time on 68.3% of tests, 7.1 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (61.2%). That puts it ahead of 77% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2009 Exeo does best (beats 83% of cars) and the 2011 worst (beats 73%).

Better than average on lights & electrics, suspension, brakes.

Watch these weak spots

Flexible brake hoses11.5×as often as a typical car
Coil springs1.5×as often as a typical car
Engine warning light1.5×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

50%60%70%80%67891011121314151677%72%70%66%62%61%
SEAT ExeoTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2009
Beats 83%
2010
Beats 77%
2011
Beats 73%
2012
Beats 79%
2013
Beats 78%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel2009–201347,31168.3%Beats 77%B

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 3.5% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 4.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 9.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 14.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 12.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 18.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 8.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 8.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 7.4% of tests fail on brakes, against 9.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 12.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 18.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+5.8 ptsTyres: 8.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 8.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.5 ptsBrakes: 7.4% of tests fail on brakes, against 9.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+2.0 ptsSuspension: 9.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 14.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+4.7 ptsExhaust: 3.5% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 4.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.7 ptsSuspension: 9.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 14.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 7.4% of tests fail on brakes, against 9.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 8.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 8.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 12.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 18.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 3.5% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 4.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 12.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 18.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+5.8 ptsTyres: 8.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 8.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.5 ptsBrakes: 7.4% of tests fail on brakes, against 9.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+2.0 ptsSuspension: 9.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 14.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+4.7 ptsExhaust: 3.5% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 4.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.7 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Tyres: 8.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 8.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics
12.3% vs 18.1%
Suspension
9.6% vs 14.3%
Tyres
8.7% vs 8.2%
Brakes
7.4% vs 9.4%
Emissions & leaks
3.5% vs 4.2%
Steering
3.1% vs 2.9%
Visibility
2.6% vs 5.7%
Body & structure
2.4% vs 4.6%
Seat belts & airbags
0.8% vs 1.3%
Wheels
0.5% vs 0.6%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Coil springs 1.5× typical
    Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
  • Engine warning light 1.5× typical
    The engine warning light should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts. If it stays on, get the fault codes read before you buy.
  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Sidelights
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Tyre tread depth
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

50%60%70%80%90%50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k150k79%75%70%67%66%63%
SEAT ExeoTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Coil springs5.6%3.9%1.5×
Tyre damage & cracking4.9%4.2%1.2×
Headlight aim4.7%4.4%1.1×
Sidelights4.1%5.2%0.8×
Tyre tread depth3.5%3.9%0.9×
Engine warning light3.1%2.0%1.5×
Track rod ends2.5%2.2%1.1×
Flexible brake hoses2.3%0.2%11.5×
Brake pads1.8%2.8%0.7×
Headlight bulbs & units1.5%3.2%0.5×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened56.1
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements46.7
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements34.9
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning32.7
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction31.2
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn27.9
A tyre seriously damaged25.9
A tyre cords visible or damaged21.8
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2013 SEAT Exeo1 engine73.0% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel4,59373.0%Beats 78%B
2012 SEAT Exeo1 engine71.4% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel9,11071.4%Beats 79%B
2011 SEAT Exeo1 engine67.4% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel14,51267.4%Beats 73%B
2010 SEAT Exeo1 engine66.0% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel12,40366.0%Beats 77%B
2009 SEAT Exeo1 engine66.9% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel6,69366.9%Beats 83%A

FAQ

What is the SEAT Exeo MOT pass rate?

68.3% of MOT tests on the SEAT Exeo were passed first time, based on 47,311 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2009–2013. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 61.2% of the time.

Is the SEAT Exeo reliable?

On MOT results it rates B (good): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 77% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which SEAT Exeo year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2009 Exeo does best for its age and mileage: it beats 83% of cars on UK roads. The 2011 does worst: it beats 73%.

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

The most common failure items are coil springs, tyre damage & cracking, headlight aim. Compared with similar cars, flexible brake hoses comes up 11.5× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.