Model reliability

Seat Toledo reliability

The Seat Toledo fails its MOT more often than most cars 6 to 10 years old: 29.1% of 4,262 tests failed in 2023, against 24.4% on average.

Up to 5 years old

19% failed their MOT

Worse than most

From 1,240 MOT tests of Seat Toledos this age.

Where it does worse than other cars this age

Fails 2× as oftenTyre condition7.6% vs 3.2%Fix about £90

Fails 12× as oftenSuspension arms3.7% vs 0.3%

Fails 5× as oftenShock absorbers1% vs 0.2%Fix about £200

Fails 2× as oftenBrake performance1% vs 0.5%

Advised 3× as oftenTyre condition21.9% vs 8.4%Fix about £90

Advised 7× as oftenShock absorbers9.1% vs 1.3%Fix about £200

Advised 7× as oftenSuspension arms6.5% vs 1%

6 to 10 years old

29.1% failed their MOT

Worse than most

From 4,262 MOT tests of Seat Toledos this age.

Where it does worse than other cars this age

Fails 2× as oftenHeadlamp aim5% vs 2.5%Fix about £30

Fails 31% more oftenTyre condition4.6% vs 3.5%Fix about £90

Fails 91% more oftenSuspension arms4.4% vs 2.3%

Fails 4× as oftenAnti-roll bars3.9% vs 1%

Advised 4× as oftenShock absorbers11.5% vs 3%Fix about £200

Advised 87% more oftenSuspension arms9.9% vs 5.3%

Advised 3× as oftenFluid leaks7.2% vs 2.2%

Over 10 years old

46.5% failed their MOT

Worse than most

From 1,198 MOT tests of Seat Toledos this age.

Where it does worse than other cars this age

Fails 72% more oftenBrake performance10% vs 5.8%

Fails 57% more oftenExhaust emissions8% vs 5.1%Fix about £150

Fails 35% more oftenHeadlamp aim7.3% vs 5.4%Fix about £30

Fails 66% more oftenSprings6.8% vs 4.1%Fix about £150

Advised 37% more oftenMechanical brake components23.2% vs 16.9%

Advised 31% more oftenSuspension arms15.9% vs 12.1%

Advised 65% more oftenSprings10.4% vs 6.3%Fix about £150

Advised 2× as oftenBrake performance9% vs 4.6%

Safety recalls

12 DVSA recalls for the Seat Toledo

Most cover a batch of cars built in a set period, and dealers fix them free. Sweep’s check shows the recalls for a car’s age and whether the DVSA has one outstanding.

R/2024/28516 Jul 2024Built 2012–2013Drivers side front airbag

On affected vehicles a deterioration of the driver airbag propellant could occur. In the event of an accident and the activation of the driver airbag fragments of the generator housing could become detached and injure the vehicle occupants.

Fix: The driver side front airbag gas generator must be replaced in all affected vehicles.

Recalled models: TOLEDO

R/2023/27311 Sept 2023Built 2013–2017Front driver airbag replacement

In vehicles produced in a specific period with airbags from manufacturer Takata in the event of an accident with airbag activation the driver airbag gas generator housing may explode.�

Fix: Inspect the driver�s airbag and replace it if necessary.�

Recalled models: TOLEDO · 2,162 vehicles

R/2019/15713 May 2019Built 2017The driver's air bag may not inflate fast enough in the event of activation

Drivers air bag may not inflate at the correct rate.

Fix: Replace the drivers front air bag.

Recalled models: TOLEDO · 50 vehicles

R/2017/2127 Jul 2017Built 2016Parts of the front seat belt pretensioner(s) pyrotechnical system could enter the cabin

Due to a faulty connection parts of the pyrotechnical system could enter the vehicles cabin during deployment.

Fix: On affected vehicles replace the seatbelt(s)

Recalled models: TOLEDO · 35 vehicles

R/2016/1805 Aug 2016Built 2015–2016Manual child lock may disengage without warning

The child lock can disengage without the driver knowing and the door can again be opened from the inside. If children leave the car unnoticed and run into the road there is a risk of accident.

Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and check the function of the manual child lock. If necessary the door lock/s will be replaced.

Recalled models: TOLEDO · 1,334 vehicles

R/2006/0335 Apr 2006Built 2004–2005Flywheel may fail

The two mass flywheel can become damaged because of a non-optimally designed through-flow restrictor in the clutch pressure pipe. This can lead to a total failure of the flywheel and under unfavourable circumstances to a vehicle fire.

Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and establish the manufacturer of the two mass flywheel. Where necessary replace the flywheel and the breather of the clutch pressure pipe.

Recalled models: TOLEDO · 1,477 vehicles

R/2004/21218 Feb 2005Built 2004Bolts of the tandem fuel pump cover may break

It is advised that on some vehicles fitted with a 3 and 4 cylinder pump injector engine the bolts of the tandem fuel pump cover may break due to a bolt production fault. As a result the pump housing will not be tight and a diesel fuel leak may occur.

Fix: Recalled vehicles will have the pump checked for being of a certain manufacture. If found to be within the affected range the pump housing cover bolts will be replaced.

Recalled models: TOLEDO · 5,492 vehicles

R/2004/2022 Feb 2005Tension cracks may occur on the vacuum pipe to the servo

Tension cracks may occur on the vacuum pipe to the brake servo in the area of the connections due to a manufacturing fault. Should a vacuum pipe leak the brake servo will loose it's function. This will result in an increase of force which must be applied to the brake pedal. But will not result in a total failure of the braking system.

Fix: Recalled vehicles will have the vacuum pipes checked and if necessary replaced.

Recalled models: TOLEDO · 26,886 vehicles

R/1996/01125 Apr 1996Built 1995Insecurity of fan blade

The pulley on the engine cooling fan may loosen causing the fan motor to seize leading to a possible electrical overload with fire risk.

Fix: Recall the affected vehicles for the fitment of a modified cooling fan and pulley.

Recalled models: TOLEDO · 64 vehicles

R/1996/01025 Apr 1996Built 1993–1995Seizure of cooling fan motor

The bearing on the engine cooling fan may seize resulting in an electrical overload with potential fire risk.

Fix: Recall the affected vehicles for the fitment of a cooling fan which incorporates a modified bearing.

Recalled models: TOLEDO · 1,509 vehicles

R/1993/02622 Jun 1993Built 1991–1992Possible brake pipe chafing on certain models

The steel brake pipe from the master cylinder to the ABS valve block may chafe on the air cleaner hose. This could result in failure of the pipe with loss of braking on one circuit.

Fix: Recall the affected vehicles shorten and re-route the air cleaner hose to avoid possible contact with the brake pipe. Where chafing has taken place the brake pipe will be replaced.

Recalled models: TOLEDO · 800 vehicles

R/1992/07325 Jan 1993Built 1991–1993Abs wiring modification

The anti-lock brake electronic control unit may malfunction due to receiving a reversed polarity feed through its earthing system which shares a common earth point with other electrical systems on the vehicle.

Fix: Recall the affected vehicles and alter the wiring system to provide a separate earthing point for the ABS system.

Recalled models: TOLEDO · 713 vehicles

Show all 12 recalls

DVSA vehicle safety recalls (Crown copyright, Open Government Licence).

Checking a Seat Toledo before you buy

Look at the parts above at the viewing, and read the car’s own MOT history: advisories for the same parts suggest the problem is already starting. Sweep’s free check shows every MOT, advisory and mileage reading for a registration.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2023 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Failure rates compare this model with all cars in the same age band. Fix prices are typical independent-garage estimates.

Seat Toledo reliability

12 DVSA recalls for the Seat Toledo

Checking a Seat Toledo before you buy

Run this check on every listing, automatically.