SEAT
Arosa
4,172 MOT tests analysed. runs below the UK fleet average — here's where Arosas pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 10.2 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
67.3%
Pass-after-fix
7.2%
Fail
24.7%
Avg miles
79,381
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars registered before January 2006 are typically pre-Euro 4 — subject to daily charges in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ. Bristol CAZ does not charge petrol cars. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
Arosa: a below-average pass rate worth digging into
Across 3,124 MOT tests, the Arosa returns 66.3% first-time pass — well below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a split CV-joint boot. A number-plate lamp out and a defective headlamp lens round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 78,823, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 8–26
Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
8–26
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
226 occurrences · 5.4% of tests
- 02
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
167 occurrences · 4.0% of tests
- 03
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
155 occurrences · 3.7% of tests
- 04
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
135 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
- 05
Exhaust system leaking or insecure
127 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 06
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
125 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 07
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
111 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
- 08
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
102 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
- 09
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
98 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
- 10
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
84 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£138–£395
If every one of this Arosa's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
H7 / W21W bulb pack
A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Headlight restoration kit
Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Hycote
Hycote Touch Up Colour Paint Brush Seat Flash Red 12.5ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Seat Black Magic Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Seat Candy White Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Seat Emocion Red Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Recall history
1 UK recall on record.
The Arosa has 1 official UK vehicle recall covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Buying or keeping an Arosa?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own an Arosa and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.