2017 SEAT Arona MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 71.8% of SEAT Aronas first used in 2017 passed their MOT first time, against 78.2% for all cars first used in 2017. Across 1,870 Arona first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were steering, tyres and brakes.

This page analyses first MOT tests for SEAT Aronas first used in 2017 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
71.8%
of 625 first tests; all cars first used in 2017: 78.2%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
1,870
first tests, 2023–2025; 625 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
38.7%
of 625 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
49,500
middle half: 38,000–62,500 miles; all cars first used in 2017: 60,000

How the 2017 SEAT Arona MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Aronas first used in 2017 against all cars first used in 2017 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Arona figure was 6.4 points lower.

2017 AronaAll cars first used in 2017
70%80%90%100%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2017, test year 2021: 85.9%All cars first used in 2017, test year 2022: 83.9%All cars first used in 2017, test year 2023: 81.7%All cars first used in 2017, test year 2024: 79.8%All cars first used in 2017, test year 2025: 78.2%2017 Arona, test year 2021: 90.6%2017 Arona, test year 2022: 83.4%2017 Arona, test year 2023: 72.6%2017 Arona, test year 2024: 71.9%2017 Arona, test year 2025: 71.8%78.2%71.8%
View this chart as a table
Test year2017 AronaAll cars first used 2017Arona first tests
202190.6%85.9%609
202283.4%83.9%625
202372.6%81.7%616
202471.9%79.8%629
202571.8%78.2%625

Common 2017 SEAT Arona MOT failures

Share of the 522 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Steering55.4%
Tyres21.8%
Brakes17.8%
Suspension13.8%
Visibility7.9%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment6.7%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt45.2%236

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2017 SEAT Arona before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Steering. Worth feeling for play or knocks in the steering on the test drive, and asking when the tracking was last checked.
  2. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  3. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.

Common 2017 SEAT Arona MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2017 Aronas, as a share of all 1,870 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing14.2%266
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened13.3%248
Brake pads: wearing thin11.2%210
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge11.1%208
Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt4.0%74

Questions about the 2017 SEAT Arona MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2017 SEAT Arona?

In 2025, 71.8% of Aronas first used in 2017 passed their MOT first time, against 78.2% for all cars first used in 2017. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2017 Arona most often fail its MOT on?

Steering (in 55.4% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (21.8%) and brakes (17.8%). The single most common item was “Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” (45.2%).

How often does a 2017 SEAT Arona fail its MOT?

In 2025, 28.2% of first tests on Aronas first used in 2017 did not pass first time: 25.9% failed, and a further 2.2% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 522 of 1,870 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2017 SEAT Arona MOT advisories?

“Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (on 14.2% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (13.3%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (11.2%), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (11.1%) and “Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt” (4.0%).

Is a 2017 SEAT Arona reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 90.6% in 2021 to 71.8% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2017

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2017 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2017 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2017 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2017 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics · 2017 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics

How the 2017 SEAT Arona MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2017 Arona” means a SEAT Arona whose date of first use falls in 2017 (66, 17 and 67 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2017, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.