Used car guide

2012 SEAT Exeo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 SEAT Exeos, from 859 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

859MOT tests in 2025
63%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
10,000typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for track rod ends

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 SEAT Exeos than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Track rod ends3.3× usual
    SEAT Exeo
    16.2% All 2012 cars
    4.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.6%, against 2.4% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Flexible brake hoses7.5× usual
    SEAT Exeo
    11.2% All 2012 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 0.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes7.8× usual
    SEAT Exeo
    4.7% All 2012 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Sub-frame1.8× usual
    SEAT Exeo
    9.2% All 2012 cars
    5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.3% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Steering rack inner joints2.7× usual
    SEAT Exeo
    6.2% All 2012 cars
    2.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 3.1% here, against 7.3% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 SEAT Exeo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    45% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    36% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    32% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    23% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Steering
    8% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a SEAT Exeo?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20111,315Suspension 51%
20101,127Suspension 54%
2009556Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 SEAT Exeos registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score