Used car guide · 2012–2021

SEAT MII common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used SEAT MII, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 54,480 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

54,480MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
18,402on the UK register
2014best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2021202020192018201720162015201420132012

What usually goes wrong with a SEAT MII?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the SEAT MII in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common SEAT MII MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Braking performance

    up to 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)

    up to 6.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Fuel cap

    up to 25× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015 and 2016.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Airbag warning light

    up to 9.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012 and 2013.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Sidelights

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015 and 2016.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

SEAT MII MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2014 SEAT MII did best (77% passed first time, 7 points above all 2014 cars) and the 2021 did worst (87%, 0 points above all 2021 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202187%87% +02,164
202087%87% +0826
201987%85% +23,874
201884%83% +13,755
201782%80% +24,393
201677%77% +06,634
201577%74% +37,971
201477%70% +79,222
201372%67% +510,420
201271%64% +75,221

Questions to ask the seller before buying a SEAT MII

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the SEAT MII as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the exhaust emissions (catalyst)? (Flagged at MOT 6.3× as often on the SEAT MII as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the SEAT MII as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a SEAT MII?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score