All generations and engines together · 109,275 MOT tests in the 2025 data · typical mileage at age 7: 66k
Split by first-registration year. Cars registered in a changeover year can belong to either generation.
Computed from DVSA MOT results, all of Great Britain, 2025. Nothing here is opinion.
Share of tests where each item was recorded. The dark tick is the class average across all tracked models; bars are scaled within each group.
The rows that judge the model rather than its keeper. 36,994 tests in this band.
Tyres, pads and stone chips say more about how the car was driven and maintained than about how it was built.
Owner folklore from forums and the motoring press. Most of it never shows up in an MOT, which is why this section exists at all.
The 7-speed dual-clutch automatic (offered on 1.4/1.6 petrol and CRDi diesel from the 2012-2018 generation onward) is the recurring complaint in owner reports: short jerks pulling away in traffic, a thump on gear changes with a high-pitched whine, and laggy response from a standstill. It shows up anywhere from new to high mileage rather than at one fixed point. A clutch pack or mechatronic unit replacement runs to roughly £1,000-£2,000 out of warranty; manual-gearbox cars are not affected.
Owners of the first-generation Cee'd (2007-2012) reported repeat front coil spring failures, including cases of more than one spring snapping within weeks of each other. This lines up with the measured MOT signature for this model, which flags suspension as the standout fault category versus its class. A snapped spring is a sharp clonk over bumps and an MOT fail on the spot; expect £150-£300 a corner fitted.
On the 1.6 and 2.0 CRDi diesels, some dealers have remapped turbos during servicing, which owners say blunts torque and performance around 1800-2000rpm. Separately, owners have mistaken normal DPF regeneration for a misfire, since it can feel like hesitation between 1500-2000rpm under acceleration; a few cases turned out to be genuine fuel-system faults needing a forced regen or injector work at the dealer. Catalytic converter and lambda sensor failures have also been reported, often on cars used mostly for short runs, at roughly £500-£700 a repair.
Older Cee'ds have a known weak spot around the electric power steering motor: a miscommunication between the steering angle sensor and its microchip can lock the column solid, which needs a full steering column replacement rather than a simple part swap. Central locking has also been flagged as a recurring niggle on older cars. Neither is manufacturer-acknowledged as a fault campaign, so treat it as owner folklore rather than a confirmed TSB.
A cluster of owners on the 2012-2018 Cee'd report flashing airbag or oil pressure warning lights that trace back to a faulty sensor rather than a real fault, plus LED daytime running lights failing in a way that needs the whole headlight unit replaced rather than just a bulb. Owners disagree on how common this really is versus normal sensor wear, and no recall covers it. Sensor replacement is usually under £150; a headlight unit is more, typically £200-£400.
Built from the two sections above.
Same segment (Family hatchbacks), best MOT record first. Compare before you shortlist.