Used car guide · 1992–2019

SEAT Toledo common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used SEAT Toledo, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 17,543 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

17,543MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
7,171on the UK register
1known fault across all years
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).

201920182017201620152014201320122008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199419931992

What usually goes wrong with a SEAT Toledo?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Timing chain wear (1.2 TSI petrol)

    Cars registered in 2012 · 1.2 TSI petrol (older engine)

    The older 1.2 TSI petrol uses a timing chain that can stretch. It starts as a rattle, especially when the engine first starts, and if it’s left the chain can fail and destroy the engine. Some garages advise changing it as often as every four years or 40,000 miles.

    At the viewing: Start the engine from cold and listen for a rattle in the first few seconds. Ask whether the chain has been changed, with an invoice.

    Source: Parkers: Volkswagen Polo (2009-2017) used review

Common SEAT Toledo MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 5.3× usual

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

    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.

  • Shock absorbers

    up to 6× usual

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

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Diesel

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 5.3× usual

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

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Shock absorbers

    up to 3.8× usual

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

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2.6× usual

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

    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.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Headlight aim

    up to 4.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015 and 2017.

    Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

SEAT Toledo MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2014 SEAT Toledo did best (69% passed first time, 1 point below all 2014 cars) and the 2005 did worst (49%, 8 points below all 2005 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201983%85% -2258 (small sample)
201879%83% -43,352
201773%80% -72,159
201672%77% -51,694
201569%74% -52,251
201469%70% -12,695
201364%67% -32,652
201264%64% +0280 (small sample)
200750%57% -7288 (small sample)
200649%56% -7471 (small sample)
200549%57% -8568
200463%57% +6271 (small sample)
200358%57% +1331 (small sample)
200256%58% -2156 (small sample)
200158%60% -2117 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a SEAT Toledo

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

  1. Has the timing chain been changed, and is there an invoice? Does it rattle when you start it from cold?
  2. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 5.9× as often on the SEAT Toledo as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 5.2× as often on the SEAT Toledo as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 4.3× as often on the SEAT Toledo as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a SEAT Toledo?

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