Diesel SEAT Ateca: MOT pass rate
89.2% of diesel SEAT Atecas pass the MOT first time, measured across 11,628 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 56,545.
Diesel against the other SEAT Ateca versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 90.4% | 26,347 |
| Diesel | 89.2% | 11,628 |
| All SEAT Ateca | 90% | 37,975 |
Why the fuel type changes the number
Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.
On the SEAT Ateca specifically, petrol is the strongest at 90.4%, and this diesel version sits 0.8 points below the 90% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average diesel SEAT Ateca had covered 56,545 miles at test, against 44,109 for the petrol. That is around average, so condition and service history will tell you more than the odometer does.
Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the SEAT Ateca page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Most common MOT failures on a diesel SEAT Ateca
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended, 0.2% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this defect)
- Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator, 0.2% of tests (1.21x the national rate for this defect)
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.1% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 2.5% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged, 2.2% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.6% of tests
- A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.1% of tests
- Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.9% of tests
- Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 0.7% of tests
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.6% of tests
From 11,671 DVSA-tracked diesel SEAT Ateca tests, 2024, split out from the SEAT Ateca's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 6.77% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.
Most common MOT advisories on a diesel SEAT Ateca
Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.
- Brake fluid significantly below minimum mark, 0.3% of tests (3.85x the national rate for this defect)
- A transmission shaft flexible coupling excessively deteriorated, 0.2% of tests (2.82x the national rate for this defect)
- A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 8.2% of tests (2.09x the national rate for this defect)
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 15.9% of tests (1.7x the national rate for this defect), also fails
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 14.5% of tests (1.19x the national rate for this defect)
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 30.1% of tests, also fails
- A tyre seriously damaged, 12.8% of tests, also fails
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 6.8% of tests, also fails
- Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3% of tests, also fails
- Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 1.4% of tests
From 11,671 DVSA-tracked diesel SEAT Ateca tests, 2024.
Other SEAT Ateca fuel types
- Petrol SEAT Ateca - 90.4%