Used car guide

2013 SEAT MII: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the SEAT MII first registered in 2013: we looked at the 10,420 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

10,420MOTs of 2013 cars, done in 2023–2025
72%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 67%)
5,600typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for braking performance

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2013 SEAT MII?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2013 SEAT MII than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Braking performance2.5× usual
    SEAT MII
    10.9% All 2013 cars
    4.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 1.6% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

  • Airbag warning light8.4× usual
    SEAT MII
    4.2% All 2013 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 0.5% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

Better than most

Brake pads: 4.7% here, against 9.9% of all 2013 cars. Coil springs: 3.1% here, against 7.5% of all 2013 cars.

Common 2013 SEAT MII MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2013 SEAT MII MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    28% 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
    25% 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
    16% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    14% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    5% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2013 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 2.5× as often on the 2013 SEAT MII as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the airbag warning light? (Flagged at MOT 8.4× as often on the 2013 SEAT MII as on other cars the same age.)
  3. 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, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the SEAT MII compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20212,164Tyres 24%
2020826Tyres 25%
20193,874Tyres 24%
20183,755Tyres 28%
20174,393Tyres 28%
20166,634Tyres 28%
20157,971Tyres 28%
20149,222Tyres 27%
20125,221Tyres 27%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of SEAT MII cars first registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score