Large family car · 2005–2017 cars
SEAT Exeo reliability
The SEAT Exeo fails 33.4% of first MOT tests, 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 17,747 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a SEAT Exeo before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 33.4%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 16% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 17,747
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 11,400
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the SEAT Exeo ages
Each point is the share of SEAT Exeos of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | SEAT Exeo | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 27.5% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 27.2% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 30.8% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 32.9% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 35% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 35.7% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 34.9% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 32.5% | 42.3% |
By year
The best and worst SEAT Exeo years
2009 cars come out best and 2011 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Exeo | 1,674 | 28.5% | 17% fewer fails | 108,866 |
| 2012 Exeo | 3,392 | 30.3% | 17% fewer fails | 115,119 |
| 2011 Exeo | 5,404 | 34.9% | 12% fewer fails | 126,238 |
| 2010 Exeo | 4,756 | 35.4% | 15% fewer fails | 134,425 |
| 2009 Exeo | 2,502 | 34.1% | 21% fewer fails | 134,358 |
Common problems
What fails most on a SEAT Exeo
Its weak spot is steering: 13% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics12.3%32% below avg
- Suspension10.9%30% below avg
- Brakes8.6%14% below avg
- Tyres8.3%2% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks4.3%13% below avg
- Steering3.8%13% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure3%45% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors2.6%54% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.9%40% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken 5.67% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 2
Position lamp not working 3.47% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.97% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 4
Diesel engine warning light faulty 2.48% of tests
A lit or non-working engine warning light can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 5
Flexible brake hose excessively deteriorated 2.23% of tests
A damaged or chafed brake hose can burst and cause sudden brake loss, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 6
Headlamp aim set too low 1.84% of tests
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
- 7
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.83% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 8
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 1.74% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a SEAT Exeo's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit18.39%
- Brake disc pitted or scored12.37%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear8.05%
- Slight play in steering rack joints6.86%
- Flexible brake hose slightly deteriorated6.67%
- Brake pads wearing thin4.78%
Before you buy
What to check on a used SEAT Exeo
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 4
Diesel engine warning light faulty
A lit or non-working engine warning light can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 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 Exeo covers about 11,400 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
- Diesel97.7%
- Petrol2.3%
Most common colours
Black, Grey, Silver, White, Red
Average engine size: 2.0 litres.
Compare
How the SEAT Exeo compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Arteon | 11.9% | 25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Subaru Outback | 25.8% | 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SEAT Exeo | 33.4% | 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Subaru Legacy | 36.7% | 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Alfa Romeo 159 | 42.6% | about average for its age |
| Peugeot 406 | 44.2% | 3% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën DS5 | 36.6% | 15% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every large family car ranked in the large family car reliability index, or all SEAT models.
Questions
SEAT Exeo questions, answered
Is the SEAT Exeo reliable?
On MOT results, the SEAT Exeo is better than average: it fails 33.4% of first MOT tests, 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 7 of 29 large family car models in our index.
What fails most on a SEAT Exeo MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the SEAT Exeo are coil spring fractured or broken (5.67% of tests), position lamp not working (3.47% of tests), tyre tread below 1.6mm (2.97% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 12.3% of its tests.
Which SEAT Exeo year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2009 cars do best (21% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2011 cars do worst (12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a SEAT Exeo do a year?
A typical SEAT Exeo covers about 11,400 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 Exeo 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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