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Cupra Born reliability by build year

Coverage 2021-present1 named generationHatchbackELECTRICITY
At a glance

Cupra Born built around 2022: more dangerous faults than average

Testers find a dangerous fault on Cupra Borns built around 2022 more often than on similar cars the same age. Look closely at the tyres on any car you view.

Check a Cupra Born by number plate

Key figure

5% of MOT tests on Cupra Borns built around 2022 found a fault the tester marked as dangerous, against 3% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Cupra Borns built around 2022 involves the tyres.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The Cupra Born's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Independent inspection

High priority

Have an independent specialist inspect the car before you commit.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Brakes

Worth checking

Inspect the brakes carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

Headlight aim

If you have time

Park facing a wall at night and check the beam pattern is even and at the right height.

By build year

How build years differ

Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your Born's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

Born Mk1

Mk1 (2021-present)

Average
ELECTRICITY

9.3% fail rate, built around 2022 (3 years old)

Fails about as often as the average car this age (about 1 in 10 MOTs, 10.1%)

From 3,300 MOT tests at this ageView details →

By age

Cupra Born fail rate by age

This chart combines every Cupra Born ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
3,3009.3%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 3 years old.

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 3-year-old Cupra Borns

These issues come from 3-year-old Cupra Borns, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelEnough data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    26.1%
    Advisory: 1,595Fail: 63 (4% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    5.6%
    Advisory: 112Fail: 160 (59% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Tyre has a cut that does not reach the ply or cords

    4.4%
    Advisory: 86Fail: 95 (52% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Headlamp aimed too low or out of line

    1.1%
    Advisory: 50Fail: 7 (12% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Braking effort varies slightly

    1.0%
    Advisory: 39Fail: 4 (9% of the times it was found)

Based on 3,300 MOT tests on 3-year-old Cupra Borns, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 3-year-old Cupra Borns notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelNot much data
  1. Other + Tyres43%
  2. Tyres + Windscreen & wipers19%
  3. Lighting + Tyres16%
  4. Brakes + Tyres13%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 190 MOT tests on Cupra Born cars built around 2022 (3 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

Not enough registration data to show this for the Cupra Born.

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Recall context

2 recalls in all

Both Cupra Born recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 1 Critical
  • 1 more

Top concerns

  • High-voltage modules replacement
  • Charging limitation to 80%

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Like-for-like

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks to compare

  1. 1

    Suzuki SX4

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    7%

    Lower fail rate: 7.0%, against 9.3% for the Cupra Born, both built around 2022.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    2,689 MOT tests on cars built around 2022

  2. 2

    Mini

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    9%
    Still registered at 10 years
    95.6%

    No clear edge over the Cupra Born on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    35,996 MOT tests on cars built around 2022

  3. 3

    Volkswagen E-Up

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    7.6%

    No clear edge over the Cupra Born on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    1,385 MOT tests on cars built around 2022

  4. 4

    Volkswagen ID.3

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    9.8%

    No clear edge over the Cupra Born on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    5,171 MOT tests on cars built around 2022

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2022 (3 years old), the Cupra Born across all generations combined fails MOTs at about the rate typical for this age. This is based on 3,300 3-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every Cupra Born ever sold: 3,300 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2022 (3 years old): 3,300 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.