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Proton Persona Compact Sei Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Proton Persona Compact Sei car check

Is the Proton Persona Compact Sei reliable? We analysed 453 real MOT tests across 105 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 453 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
60.7%
Typical Mileage
74,804mi
Annual Mileage
6,043mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
30yrs

The Proton Persona Compact Sei is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, steering rack gaiter split and parking brake recording little or no effort. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Proton Persona Compact Sei.

Proton Persona Compact Sei Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Proton Persona Compact Sei. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Proton Persona Compact Sei MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Proton Persona Compact Sei to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

62%
1997
60.2%
1996

Proton Persona Compact Sei Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Proton Persona Compact Sei fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 75
Steering rack gaiter split 36
parking brake recording little or no effort 36
Stop lamp not working 30
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 28
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 26
fog lamp not working 25
position lamp(s) not working 25
brake recording little or no effort 20
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 20

Proton Persona Compact Sei Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Proton Persona Compact Sei owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,666 mi/yr
Typical
6,043 mi/yr
Average
6,795 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,051 mi/yr

Proton Persona Compact Sei MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Proton Persona Compact Sei year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1997 79 62.0% 54,628 68,119 87,234
1996 342 60.2% 61,823 76,830 98,658

How Long Does a Proton Persona Compact Sei Last?

Based on 105 Proton Persona Compact Sei vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.0 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
30 years

Proton Persona Compact Sei Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Proton Persona Compact Sei MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
74,804 mi
75th Percentile
95,864 mi
95th Percentile
128,310 mi
Max Recorded
786,679 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Proton Persona Compact Sei

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1997

62.0% MOT pass rate from 79 tests

Year to avoid
1996

60.2% MOT pass rate from 342 tests

The best year to buy a used Proton Persona Compact Sei is 1997, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 62.0% across 79 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Proton Persona Compact Sei Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Proton Persona Compact Sei THIS CAR 60.7% 453 74,804 mi 30 yrs
Proton Persona 66% 104,196 68,588 mi 32 yrs
Proton GEN-2 70.5% 59,272 46,580 mi 22 yrs
Proton Wira 70.1% 57,151 47,970 mi 26 yrs
Ktm 690 Enduro R 20 87.5% 543 5,320 mi — yrs

Compared to the Proton Persona (66.0% pass rate) and the Proton GEN-2 (70.5% pass rate), the Proton Persona Compact Sei trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Proton Persona Compact Sei?

The Proton Persona Compact Sei has an overall MOT pass rate of 60.7% across 453 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Proton Persona Compact Sei are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (75 recorded failures), steering rack gaiter split (36), and parking brake recording little or no effort (36). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Proton Persona Compact Sei owner drives around 6,043 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Proton Persona Compact Sei models stay on UK roads for around 30 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Proton Persona Compact Sei — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Proton Persona Compact Sei reliable?
Based on 453 MOT tests, the Proton Persona Compact Sei has a 60.7% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Proton Persona Compact Sei?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, steering rack gaiter split, and parking brake recording little or no effort. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Proton Persona Compact Sei do per year?
The typical Proton Persona Compact Sei does around 6,043 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Proton Persona Compact Sei last?
Most Proton Persona Compact Sei models stay on UK roads for around 30 years based on our analysis of 105 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Proton Persona Compact Sei?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Proton Persona Compact Sei?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Proton Persona Compact Sei is 1997 with a 62.0% pass rate across 79 tests.