Seat Cordoba
From 311 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning and significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 17 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 17 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 13 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 12 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 12 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 11 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 11 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 11 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 11 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 10 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 8 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 19% of Cordoba failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 25% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £87.
Seat Cordoba on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 52 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 52. At this rate, roughly 9 years until none remain. Now at 3.6% of its peak (13,089 in 2003 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 99 | 369 | +0 | -0 | +1 |
| 2025 Q2 | 102 | 365 | +0 | -10 | -10 |
| 2025 Q1 | 113 | 364 | +0 | -20 | -20 |
| 2024 Q4 | 127 | 370 | +0 | -22 | -22 |
| 2024 Q3 | 136 | 383 | +0 | -15 | -15 |
| 2024 Q2 | 147 | 387 | +0 | -8 | -8 |
| 2024 Q1 | 159 | 383 | +0 | -18 | -18 |
| 2023 Q4 | 172 | 388 | +0 | -12 | -12 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
Typical mileage
Half of all Cordobas tested had between 80,940 and 154,633 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 109,080 median miles, the Cordoba has 0.03 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Seat models
| Seat Ibiza | 74.7% |
| Seat Leon | 80.8% |
| Seat Ateca | 89.9% |
| Seat Arona | 87.2% |
| Seat Alhambra | 78.8% |
Common questions
What is the Seat Cordoba MOT pass rate?
The Seat Cordoba has a 67.5% MOT pass rate based on 311 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Seat Cordoba?
The most common MOT failure on the Seat Cordoba is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 17 failures. Other common issues include a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
How many Seat Cordobas are on UK roads?
There are 99 Seat Cordobas currently licensed on UK roads, with 369 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Seat Cordoba at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Seat Cordoba is 109,080 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 80,940 and 154,633 miles.
Buying a used Cordoba?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 67.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £87 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.