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SEAT Alhambra reliability by build year

Coverage 2000-20202 named generationsMPVDIESEL / PETROL
At a glance

SEAT Alhambra built around 2018: fails its MOT less often than average

SEAT Alhambras built around 2018 fail their MOT less often than similar cars the same age.

Check a SEAT Alhambra by number plate

Key figure

16% of MOT tests on SEAT Alhambras built around 2018 ended in a fail (retests included), against 22% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on SEAT Alhambras built around 2018 involves the tyres.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

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

Brake pads

High priority

Ask when the pads were last replaced and check the warning-light history.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Tyres

Worth checking

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

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

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.

By build year

How build years differ

Fail rates have been steady over the last three years. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your Alhambra's generation

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

Alhambra Mk2 (7N)

Mk2 (7N) (2010-2020)

Average
DIESELPETROL

16.3% fail rate, built around 2018 (7 years old)

Fails about as often as the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

From 5,105 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift)

Mk1 (7M, facelift) (2000-2009)

Not enough tests to rate
DIESEL

36.5% fail rate, built around 2008 (17 years old)

Likely between 32.2% and 41.0%

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 31.2%)

From 458 MOT tests at this ageView details →

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the SEAT Alhambra.

See every build year for the SEAT Alhambra

Side-by-side

SEAT Alhambra generations compared

Each generation is shown at 7 years old if it has at least 100 MOT tests at that age. If not, or if its cars are too new to be 7, it's shown at another age. We try ages close to 7 first. Newer generations have fewer years of data.

GenerationRatingFail rate
Mk2 (7N) (2010-2020)
Average
Average16.3%built around 2018 (7 years old)from 5,105 MOT tests at this age
Mk1 (7M, facelift) (2000-2009)
No ratingNot enough tests to rate
No ratingNot enough tests to rate36.5%likely between 32.2% and 41.0%built around 2008 (17 years old)from 458 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the Alhambra, shown at the age printed under its fail rate. So rows can be different ages. Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail, retests included. A rating is given only when there are enough tests to place the fail rate in one rating band with 95% confidence.

By age

SEAT Alhambra fail rate by age

This chart combines every SEAT Alhambra 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
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
35713.2%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
1,81812.2%
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
2,82213.7%
7 yearsbuilt around 2018
5,10516.3%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
6,34218.3%
9 yearsbuilt around 2016
3,73018.7%
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
2,64322.2%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
2,21724.1%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
1,92524.8%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
1,72326.3%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
1,06626.6%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
36134.1%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
44536.0%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
45836.5%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
36435.7%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
29835.6%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
29336.9%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
21636.6%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
12937.2%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
5841.4%

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 23 years old.

Where it ranks

Where the SEAT Alhambra stacks up

Three ways to compare the same cars, built around 2018 (7 years old). The fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests, and 1st has the lowest fail rate. Only models with at least 500 MOT tests at this age are ranked. How we count fail rates

Against other SEAT models

3rd of 7

3rd lowest fail rate of 7 SEAT models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

In the middle third

Against other people carriers

7th of 33

7th lowest fail rate of 33 people carriers with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

Close to the middle third

Against the UK average

16.3%

The share of this model's MOT tests at this age that ended in a fail.

Fails about as often as the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 7-year-old SEAT Alhambras

These issues come from 7-year-old SEAT Alhambras, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelPlenty of 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

    22.7%
    Advisory: 1,812Fail: 137 (7% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    17.4%
    Advisory: 1,233Fail: 264 (18% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    9.4%
    Advisory: 490Fail: 74 (13% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    7.8%
    Advisory: 307Fail: 256 (45% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    7.4%
    Advisory: 492Fail: 4 (1% of the times it was found)

Based on 5,105 MOT tests on 7-year-old SEAT Alhambras, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 7-year-old SEAT Alhambras notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelPlenty of data
  1. Suspension + Tyres34%
  2. Brakes + Tyres30%
  3. Brakes + Suspension24%
  4. Other + Tyres21%

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

Across 1,466 MOT tests on SEAT Alhambra cars built around 2018 (7 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

90%of this model's cars first registered in 2014 to 2015 were still registered 10 years later

UK average for cars first registered in 2014 to 2015: 92% · About typical

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.

Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0124).

Recall context

13 recalls in all

12 of the 13 SEAT Alhambra recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 7 Critical
  • 5 more

Top concerns

  • Takata front drivers or passenger airbag replacement
  • Front driver airbag replacement
  • A condenser may fail due to inadequate heat treatment in the airbag control unit

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

Like-for-like

Other people carriers to compare

Other people carriers to compare

  1. 1

    Kia Venga

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    11.8%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    0.7%
    Dangerous
    3.3%
    Still registered at 10 years
    96.8%

    Lower fail rate: 11.8%, against 16.3% for the SEAT Alhambra, both built around 2018.

    5,255 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  2. 2

    Hyundai ix20

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    12.5%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1%
    Dangerous
    4.5%
    Still registered at 10 years
    95.4%

    Lower fail rate: 12.5%, against 16.3% for the SEAT Alhambra, both built around 2018.

    3,239 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  3. 3

    Toyota Estima

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    17.7%

    No clear edge over the SEAT Alhambra on these figures.

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

    1,057 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  4. 4

    Vauxhall Zafira

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    20.3%
    Still registered at 10 years
    89.7%

    No clear edge over the SEAT Alhambra on these figures.

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

    10,737 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
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 2018 (7 years old), the SEAT Alhambra across all generations combined fails MOTs at about the rate typical for this age. It has the 3rd lowest fail rate of 7 SEAT models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age. This is based on 5,105 7-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every SEAT Alhambra ever sold: 32,370 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2018 (7 years old): 5,105 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.