Used car guide

2005 SEAT Toledo petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol SEAT Toledo first registered in 2005 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 165 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 165 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

165MOTs of 2005 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
50%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 57%)
5,600typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2005 SEAT Toledo petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2005 SEAT Toledo petrol than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.6× usual
    SEAT Toledo
    18.8% All 2005 cars
    7.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 13.3%, against 3.3% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

Common 2005 SEAT Toledo petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2005 SEAT Toledo petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    52% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    43% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    41% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    29% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    23% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    20% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2005 SEAT Toledo petrol

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

  1. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2005 SEAT Toledo petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. 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, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the SEAT Toledo compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2019258Tyres 36%
20183,352Tyres 33%
20172,159Tyres 30%
20161,694Suspension 31%
20152,251Suspension 35%
20142,695Suspension 37%
20132,652Suspension 39%
2012280Suspension 37%
2008–Too few tests
2007288Suspension 56%
2006471Suspension 52%
2004271Brakes 48%
2003331Suspension 44%
2002156Suspension 49%
2001117Suspension 50%
2000–Too few tests
1999–Too few tests
1998–Too few tests
1997–Too few tests
1996–Too few tests
1994–Too few tests
1993–Too few tests
1992–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of SEAT Toledo cars first registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score