CARMOTIQ Model Research Report
Cupra FORMENTOR
2016–2021
The Cupra FORMENTOR MOT pass rate for cars first registered 2016–2021 is 90.1% across 13,259 official UK DVSA tests. The Cupra Formentor first registered 2016–2021 has a 90.1% MOT pass rate, with 4,103 recorded notes for tyres worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge — so check tread depth and, importantly, tyre edge wear on a viewing. Reviewers keep calling it a stylish, sporty crossover that sits you low and snug and is actually fun to drive, while used listings flag a firm ride and a cabin that is not the roomiest in the class. What the official UK MOT record adds to that picture is an upkeep story: owner-maintenance notes far outnumber systemic ones. While you are down at the tyres, look at the damper bodies for light oil misting.
Unlike a registration check, this report analyses how thousands of similar Cupra FORMENTOR models have performed at MOT over time—not just one vehicle.
Report Dataset
- Official UK DVSA MOT tests analysed
- 13,259
- Recorded defect notes
- 13,751
- Registration era
- 2016–2021
- Coverage
- United Kingdom
- Snapshot
- 27 August 2026
- Research method
- Aggregated model-level MOT analysis
MOT pass rate
90.1%
of MOT tests passed
MOT tests analysed
13,259
Defect notes recorded
13,751
Key Findings
Cupra FORMENTOR (2016–2021)
- The Cupra Formentor first registered 2016–2021 passed 90.1% of 13,259 official DVSA MOT tests.
- Tyres worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge appear 4,103 times — the most frequently recorded defect note, not a tally of failed tests.
- Shock absorbers with light misting of oil appear 1,817 times, so a slightly damp damper on a viewing is a known fleet-level note.
- Systemic notes are 150 of 13,751 recorded defects; engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction is the repeat systemic wording, at 54 notes.
- Listings sell the Formentor as sharp, engaging and well equipped; the MOT file does not pick a fight with that, but it does make tyres and damper misting the viewing jobs.
Cupra FORMENTOR Research Summary
The Formentor is how Cupra planted its flag as more than a sporty Seat badge: a crossover that tries to feel like a hot hatch with extra height. Reviewers keep coming back to the athletic stance, a driving position that drops you low and snug, and the fact it is actually enjoyable on a decent road, with plenty of petrol and hybrid choice. Used listings push the same character — sharp, well equipped, a bit of theatre — next to the usual caveats: a ride that can be too firm, less practicality than some rivals, and climate controls buried in a touchscreen. Reliability talk around the model is mixed; the sales copy never is.
Carmotiq analysed 13,259 official DVSA MOT tests of the Cupra Formentor first registered 2016–2021, covering vehicles in the 5–10 year registration-era band we use for consistent make-and-model comparisons. The pass rate: 90.1%. Of 13,751 recorded defect notes, 10,377 are classed as owner maintenance, 1,583 as wear and tear, 150 as systemic and 1,641 as other. Tyres worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge account for 4,103 of those notes; shock absorbers with light misting of oil add 1,817. Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction is the systemic wording that repeats, at 54 notes.
For anyone weighing up a used Formentor, treat that as a viewing brief rather than a reason to walk away. Tyre condition is something you can check for yourself: tread depth and, importantly, tyre edge wear — replacing a set can be a meaningful immediate cost. Look for light oil misting on the shock bodies, fire the washers, check headlamp aim, and get an engine or SRS warning lamp diagnosed before you proceed. Then inspect the car in front of you, run an HPI check, and pull that vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK; this page does not replace those.
What this doesn't tell you
This report describes model-level MOT trends, not the condition of any individual vehicle.
Two identical Cupra FORMENTOR models can have very different maintenance histories.
Use this report to understand common patterns before inspecting a specific car.
How we classify MOT faults
We group recorded DVSA defect wording into four research categories to help identify whether issues are more likely to reflect routine maintenance, expected wear, recurring model patterns or miscellaneous inspection outcomes.
- Owner maintenance
- Defects often linked to day-to-day upkeep — for example tyres, lamps, washers and other items a careful owner can usually prevent or fix promptly.
- Wear & tear
- Age- and mileage-related deterioration that accumulates with normal use, even when a car has been looked after.
- Systemic
- Recurring wording and patterns that appear across the model fleet and may point to design, component or known-model tendencies rather than one careless owner.
- Other
- Inspection outcomes that do not sit cleanly in the three groups above, including mixed or less classifiable defect notes.
How MOT failures break down
Share of recorded defect notes by category for Cupra FORMENTOR in this age band (not MOT tests and not number of vehicles).
- Owner maintenance
75.5% · 10,377
defect notes
- Wear & tear
11.5% · 1,583
defect notes
- Systemic
1.1% · 150
defect notes
- Other
11.9% · 1,641
defect notes
Severity mix
How those defect notes were graded — advisory, minor, major or dangerous — summed across categories for this model band.
Advisory
11,469
defect notes
Minor
384
defect notes
Major
1,211
defect notes
Dangerous
687
defect notes
Most Common Owner-Maintenance Faults
DVSA wording grouped as owner maintenance for this model and age band.
Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
- Recorded
- 4,103 MOT defect notes
- DVSA code
- 5.2.3 (e)
What it means
Tread is close to (or at) the legal minimum, or wear is concentrated on an edge. That often points to alignment, pressure or suspension issues as well as simple age.
Why it happens
Under-inflation, poor alignment, aggressive driving or simply delayed replacement push tread below a safe/legal profile.
Buyer tip
Measure tread across the full width, check tyre age (DOT date) and look for uneven inner-edge wear.
Severity
Usually maintenance related
Shock absorbers has light misting of oil
- Recorded
- 1,817 MOT defect notes
- DVSA code
- 5.3.2 (b)
What it means
A damper mounting bush is worn, which can cause knocks, vague handling and accelerated tyre wear.
Why it happens
Rubber bushes harden and tear with age, road salt and repeated suspension movement.
Buyer tip
Listen for clunks over speed bumps and have a mechanic check top mounts and lower bushes.
Severity
Usually maintenance related
Windscreen washer not working
- Recorded
- 144 MOT defect notes
- DVSA code
- 3.5 (a)
What it means
Washer jets are not delivering fluid. Testers need a clear screen; empty reservoirs, blocked jets or failed pumps are common.
Why it happens
Empty bottles, frozen/blocked jets, split pipes or a failed pump stop fluid reaching the screen.
Buyer tip
Top up fluid, test the jets on the driveway, and check for cracked bottles or split pipes in the engine bay.
Severity
Usually maintenance related
Headlamp aim too low
- Recorded
- 116 MOT defect notes
- DVSA code
- 4.1.2 (a)
What it means
This MOT defect usually indicates incorrect headlamp alignment following adjustment, suspension movement or repair work.
Why it happens
Aim drifts after suspension work, bumper repairs, bulb changes or simply from road vibration over time.
Buyer tip
Check beam alignment during inspection and ask whether the lamps were aimed after any recent suspension or bodywork.
Severity
Usually maintenance related
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault
- Recorded
- 63 MOT defect notes
- DVSA code
- 7.1.6 (a)
What it means
The airbag/SRS warning lamp indicates a fault. Restraint systems may not deploy correctly in a collision.
Why it happens
Clock-spring, sensor or module faults — sometimes after prior accident repairs — set SRS warnings.
Buyer tip
Require a specialist SRS diagnosis — do not accept a bulb removed or lamp covered up.
Severity
Usually maintenance related
Tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative
- Recorded
- 33 MOT defect notes
- DVSA code
- 5.2.3 (h)
What it means
The tyre pressure monitoring system is reporting a fault or is clearly not working, so you may not get a dashboard warning of under-inflation.
Why it happens
Flat battery sensors after tyre changes, damaged valves or control-module faults are common.
Buyer tip
Confirm whether sensors need replacing after recent tyre or wheel work, and check pressures manually anyway.
Severity
Usually maintenance related
Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed
- Recorded
- 12 MOT defect notes
- DVSA code
- 7.1.2 (b)
What it means
Seat-belt webbing is frayed or lightly damaged, which can weaken the belt in a crash.
Why it happens
Abrasion at guides, trapped belts or age fray the webbing fibres.
Buyer tip
Pull each belt fully out and inspect for cuts, fraying and weak retraction.
Severity
Usually maintenance related
Reversing lamp inoperative
- Recorded
- 7 MOT defect notes
- DVSA code
- 4.6.1 (a)
What it means
This wording appears on DVSA MOT records for this model. It flags a tester-observed defect or advisory that can affect safety, legality or a future pass.
Why it happens
These issues often build up when routine checks are skipped between services — tyres, lamps and washers are typical examples.
Buyer tip
Ask the seller for invoices covering this item, and have an independent inspector confirm whether it is still present.
Severity
Usually maintenance related
Most Common Wear & Tear Faults
DVSA wording grouped as wear and tear for this model and age band.
No wear-and-tear items in this extract.
Most Common Systemic Faults
DVSA wording grouped as systemic patterns for this model and age band.
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction
- Recorded
- 54 MOT defect notes
- DVSA code
- 8.2.1.2 (h)
What it means
The engine management warning lamp is on or not working. Stored faults can affect emissions, drivability and future MOT results.
Why it happens
Sensors, emissions equipment or wiring faults store codes that illuminate the MIL.
Buyer tip
Ask for a diagnostic printout and proof that the underlying fault — not just the lamp — was fixed.
Severity
Often a recurring model pattern
Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread cracked
- Recorded
- 2 MOT defect notes
- DVSA code
- 0.1 (b)
What it means
The number plate is cracked, deteriorated or hard to read. Plates must remain legible and securely fitted.
Why it happens
Age, stone chips, poor replacements or mounts that flex crack or fade plates.
Buyer tip
Budget for legal replacement plates; check fixing and any bike-rack or tow-bar obstruction.
Severity
Often a recurring model pattern
Power steering malfunctioning
- Recorded
- 2 MOT defect notes
- DVSA code
- 2.1.5 (a)
What it means
Power steering assistance is malfunctioning, making the car heavier and less predictable to steer.
Why it happens
Low fluid, pump faults, leaks or electric PAS failures remove assistance.
Buyer tip
Check fluid (if hydraulic), look for leaks, and verify electric PAS warnings on the dash.
Severity
Often a recurring model pattern
Rear Anti-lock braking system wiring damaged but not excessively
- Recorded
- 1 MOT defect notes
- DVSA code
- 1.6 (d)
What it means
The ABS system is reporting a fault or its wiring is damaged. You may lose anti-lock control in an emergency stop.
Why it happens
Wheel-speed sensors, damaged wiring or module faults set ABS warnings.
Buyer tip
Scan for ABS codes, check wheel-speed sensor wiring, and do not ignore a lit ABS lamp.
Severity
Often a recurring model pattern
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction
- Recorded
- 1 MOT defect notes
- DVSA code
- 8.2.2.2 (g)
What it means
The engine management warning lamp is on or not working. Stored faults can affect emissions, drivability and future MOT results.
Why it happens
Sensors, emissions equipment or wiring faults store codes that illuminate the MIL.
Buyer tip
Ask for a diagnostic printout and proof that the underlying fault — not just the lamp — was fixed.
Severity
Often a recurring model pattern
Recent year-by-year category counts
Defect-note totals by calendar year in the serving extract (not MOT tests, not vehicles, and not a prediction).
| Year | Owner maintenance | Wear & tear | Systemic | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| defect notes | defect notes | defect notes | defect notes | |
| 2023 | 38 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3,605 | 419 | 49 | 555 |
| 2025 | 4,852 | 814 | 70 | 809 |
| 2026 | 1,882 | 344 | 29 | 275 |
Buying a used Cupra FORMENTOR: practical MOT checks
- Measure tyre tread across the full width, including the inner and outer edges, and check the DOT date — edge wear is easy to miss if you only glance at the centre.
- Look for light oil misting on the shock absorber bodies at each corner and ask when the dampers were last attended to.
- Confirm the engine management light and the airbag (SRS) lamp are out, and that any past warning has been diagnosed rather than just reset.
- Fire the windscreen washers and check headlamp aim on level ground; both are one-minute tests that still turn up in this extract.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Cupra Formentor MOT pass rate for 2016–2021?
- In this extract, the Cupra Formentor shows a 90.1% MOT pass rate across 13,259 recorded DVSA tests of cars first registered 2016–2021.
- What are the most common Cupra Formentor MOT defect notes?
- Of 13,751 recorded defect notes, 10,377 are classed as owner maintenance. The highest-volume wording is tyres worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge (4,103 notes), followed by shock absorbers with light misting of oil (1,817).
- Is this the same as checking one Cupra Formentor on GOV.UK?
- No. GOV.UK shows one vehicle. This page aggregates MOT outcomes for the Cupra Formentor make and model in the 5–10 year registration-era band so you can research the model before you shortlist cars.