SEAT Mii: what fails at MOT
24,000 MOT tests on the SEAT Mii in 2024, counted. 21.9% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
21.9% of SEAT Mii tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 23.6%, so the Mii is about average for its age.
It fails most often on lights and electrics (5.6% of tests), brakes (4.4% of tests) and tyres (3.2% of tests). It fails on seat belts and airbags more often than most cars its age.
By year of registration
Older cars fail more, whatever the model. So each year is shown beside the figure for all cars first used that year.
| First used | Tests | Failed first time | All cars that year | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,574 | 12.6% | 10.9% | 17,400 12,000 to 23,700 |
| 2020 | 380 | 11.6% | 11.5% | 18,600 11,700 to 24,600 |
| 2019 | 1,689 | 12.7% | 13.4% | 24,100 15,300 to 35,900 |
| 2018 | 1,621 | 15.7% | 15.6% | 30,200 20,100 to 42,200 |
| 2017 | 1,906 | 19.6% | 18.2% | 37,800 24,400 to 51,500 |
| 2016 | 2,844 | 21.9% | 21.3% | 42,200 30,500 to 58,100 |
| 2015 | 3,441 | 21.9% | 24.4% | 48,900 34,700 to 64,500 |
| 2014 | 4,011 | 23.8% | 27.7% | 56,000 40,300 to 73,400 |
| 2013 | 4,514 | 27.1% | 30.6% | 62,700 46,000 to 80,600 |
| 2012 | 2,181 | 29.7% | 33.4% | 66,700 49,200 to 87,900 |
Green is at least three points better than other cars that year, red at least three points worse. Typical mileage is the middle reading at the test, with the range the middle half of cars fell in.
Where it fails
The share of SEAT Mii tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | Mii | Cars its age |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 5.6% | 5.8% |
| Brakes | 4.4% | 3.6% |
| Tyres | 3.2% | 4.2% |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen | 2.7% | 2.6% |
| Suspension Less than most | 2.6% | 4.7% |
| Body and structure | 2.0% | 1.5% |
| Exhaust and emissions | 1.6% | 1.5% |
| Seat belts and airbags More than most | 1.2% | 0.4% |
The parts that fail most
- Footbrake2.3%
- Tyre2.0%
- Headlamp aim1.8%
- Number plate light1.4%
- Wipers1.3%
- Tyre tread1.3%
- Side light1.3%
- Washers1.3%
- Exhaust emissions1.2%
- Suspension pins and bushes1.2%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Footbrake: excessively binding1.8%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.3%
- Tyre tread: below requirements of 1.6mm1.3%
- Side light: not working1.2%
- Number plate light: inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps1.2%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.1%
- Headlamp aim: too low1.0%
- Fuel cap/sealing device: ineffective1.0%
- Airbag warning light: warning lamp indicates a fault1.0%
- Exhaust emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits0.9%
What testers warn about
Advisories are things that passed this time but are wearing. They are the best guide to next year's bills.
- Tyre tread: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge9.9%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing9.6%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened4.8%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement3.7%
- Brake pads: wearing thin2.9%
- Footbrake: binding but not excessively2.8%
- Brake discs: worn, but not excessively2.0%
- Play in steering rack inner joint(s)1.3%
What these figures can't tell you
An MOT is a safety and emissions test. These figures show how often the model fails that test. They say nothing about engines, gearboxes or electronics that break between tests, and how a car has been looked after matters more than its badge. The car you are looking at has its own MOT record, and that is the one to read.
Ask before you travel
- “Are any warning lights on, such as the airbag light?”
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
- “When were the brake pads and discs last changed?”
- “How much tread is left on each tyre, and how old are they?”
Check a SEAT Mii's own MOT record
Looking at a Mii? Type its registration to see every test that car has had, what it failed on and what it was warned about, free.
Where this comes from
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The counting is Hindsight's own.
First-attempt MOT tests of cars first used 2004 to 2021. A test counts as failed if it failed or only passed after a repair during the test. Retests are left out. Built on 13 November 2026.