SEAT Toledo: MOT pass rate and reliability data
The SEAT Toledo fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 2.8 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 6,015 individual SEAT Toledo tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.
The numbers
| First-time pass rate | 73.9% |
| UK national average | 76.7% |
| Difference | -2.8 points |
| Tests analysed | 6,015 |
| Average mileage at test | 105,133 miles |
| Average year of manufacture | 2014 |
| Reliability rank | 1,648 of 2,005 models |
What this means if you are buying one
A 73.9% first-time pass rate means roughly 26 in every 100 SEAT Toledos presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average SEAT Toledo tested had covered 105,133 miles and was built around 2014.
What this means at salvage auction
Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The SEAT Toledo sits 2.8 points below the national average, ranked 1,648 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.
Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.
Looking at a specific SEAT Toledo rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see the median recorded closing bid for a damaged SEAT Toledo: £300 at UK salvage auction, from 3 ended listings, not independently confirmed sales.
Most common MOT failures on a SEAT Toledo
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.7% of tests (2.4x the national rate for this defect)
- A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2% of tests (2.07x the national rate for this defect)
- Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1.6% of tests (2.03x the national rate for this defect)
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 9.3% of tests (1.84x the national rate for this defect)
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.9% of tests (1.66x the national rate for this defect)
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.7% of tests (1.64x the national rate for this defect)
- A tyre seriously damaged, 4.5% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this defect)
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 1.4% of tests (1.43x the national rate for this defect)
- Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.8% of tests (1.42x the national rate for this defect)
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.5% of tests
From 6,013 DVSA-tracked SEAT Toledo tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.69% of these flagged SEAT Toledo defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.
Most common MOT advisories on a SEAT Toledo
An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a SEAT Toledo before it actually fails on it.
- A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 14.4% of tests (3.68x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
- A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 1.1% of tests (2.05x the national rate for this advisory)
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.6% of tests (1.79x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 19.5% of tests (1.59x the national rate for this advisory)
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 19.8% of tests (1.48x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
- Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 7.6% of tests (1.37x the national rate for this advisory)
- Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 4.1% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
- A tyre seriously damaged, 18.1% of tests (1.17x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 27% of tests, also fails
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 8.8% of tests
From 6,013 DVSA-tracked SEAT Toledo tests, 2024.
SEAT Toledo pass rate by model year
From its 2013 to its 2018 model year, the SEAT Toledo's first-time pass rate has risen 13.6 points, from 69% to 82.6%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each SEAT Toledo year:
- 2013 SEAT Toledo - 69% first-time pass, 893 tests
- 2014 SEAT Toledo - 76% first-time pass, 896 tests
- 2015 SEAT Toledo - 73.7% first-time pass, 764 tests
- 2016 SEAT Toledo - 75.3% first-time pass, 562 tests
- 2017 SEAT Toledo - 78% first-time pass, 731 tests
- 2018 SEAT Toledo - 82.6% first-time pass, 1,128 tests
SEAT Toledo by fuel type
The SEAT Toledo's two most-tested fuel types split by 7.6 points: petrol passes first time 78.1% of the time (3,060 tests) against 70.5% for diesel (2,916 tests).
- Petrol SEAT Toledo - 78.1% first-time pass, 3,060 tests
- Diesel SEAT Toledo - 70.5% first-time pass, 2,916 tests
Other SEAT models
- SEAT Ibiza - 71.3%
- SEAT Leon - 79.5%
- SEAT Arona - 86.6%
- SEAT Ateca - 89.7%
- SEAT Alhambra - 77.7%
- SEAT Mii - 82.1%
- SEAT Altea - 65.9%
- SEAT Tarraco - 86.6%
Models with a similar pass rate
- Suzuki Alto - 74%
- Fiat Motorhome - 74%
- Renault R5 - 74%
- Lexus Rx350 - 73.9%
- Ford Grand C-Max - 73.8%
- Toyota Avensis - 73.7%
If this car is a salvage or write-off
- What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
- What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
- Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
- Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?
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