Family SUV · 2016–2021 cars
SEAT Ateca reliability
The SEAT Ateca fails 11% of first MOT tests, 30% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 118,673 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a SEAT Ateca before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 11%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 30% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 118,673
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 9,000
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the SEAT Ateca ages
Each point is the share of SEAT Atecas of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | SEAT Ateca | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 10.1% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 11.6% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 13.3% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 13.3% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 15.8% | 25.5% |
By year
The best and worst SEAT Ateca years
2016 cars come out best and 2021 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Ateca | 3,632 | 10% | 15% fewer fails | 26,528 |
| 2020 Ateca | 14,340 | 9.1% | 28% fewer fails | 29,494 |
| 2019 Ateca | 30,474 | 9.6% | 31% fewer fails | 34,371 |
| 2018 Ateca | 30,820 | 11.7% | 25% fewer fails | 40,571 |
| 2017 Ateca | 32,816 | 12.5% | 32% fewer fails | 48,887 |
| 2016 Ateca | 6,591 | 11.9% | 43% fewer fails | 57,632 |
Common problems
What fails most on a SEAT Ateca
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Tyres4.3%17% below avg
- Brakes2.4%17% below avg
- Lights and electrics2%50% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors1.7%48% below avg
- Suspension0.9%57% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks0.6%38% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.5%56% above avg
- Number plates and VIN0.2%36% below avg
- Steering0.1%84% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.75% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 2
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.44% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 3
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 1.02% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 0.76% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 5
Tyre ply or cords exposed 0.42% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 6
Headlamp aim set too low 0.4% of tests
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
- 7
Headlamp aim set too high 0.4% of tests
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
- 8
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 0.39% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a SEAT Ateca's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit11.88%
- Brake pads wearing thin9.81%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking6.87%
- Brake disc pitted or scored6.22%
- Child seat limits belt inspection4.72%
- Shock absorber light oil misting3.68%
Before you buy
What to check on a used SEAT Ateca
- 1
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 2
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 3
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical SEAT Ateca covers about 9,000 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol68.8%
- Diesel31.2%
Most common colours
Grey, White, Blue, Black, Red
Average engine size: 1.5 litres.
Compare
How the SEAT Ateca compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Porsche Macan | 7.6% | 58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Skoda Karoq | 9.6% | 30% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SEAT Ateca | 11% | 30% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Vauxhall Grandland | 13.6% | about average for its age |
| Kia Sorento | 30.2% | about average for its age |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | 32.5% | 4% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Peugeot 5008 | 33.1% | 38% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every family suv ranked in the family suv reliability index, or all SEAT models.
Questions
SEAT Ateca questions, answered
Is the SEAT Ateca reliable?
On MOT results, the SEAT Ateca is better than average: it fails 11% of first MOT tests, 30% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 13 of 59 family suv models in our index.
What fails most on a SEAT Ateca MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the SEAT Ateca are tyre tread below 1.6mm (1.75% of tests), brake pads worn below 1.5mm (1.44% of tests), tyre cut reaching ply or cords (1.02% of tests). By area, tyres fails 4.3% of its tests.
Which SEAT Ateca year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2016 cars do best (43% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2021 cars do worst (15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a SEAT Ateca do a year?
A typical SEAT Ateca covers about 9,000 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a SEAT Ateca before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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