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SEAT Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift) (2000-2009) reliability

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SEAT Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift) built around 2008: not enough MOT data yet

We've only seen a handful of SEAT Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift) models built around 2008 so far. Too few to spot a pattern yet.

Looking at a SEAT Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

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Check a car’s number plate to see its own MOT record, or come back when there’s more MOT history.

SEAT Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift)
No reliability rating: not enough tests to rate2000-2009MPVDIESEL

Based on 2,405 tests of Alhambra models registered 2000-2009.

Mk1 (7M, facelift) fail rate by age

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for cars this age
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
14436.8%
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.

How the Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift) compares

At each age below, see how the Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift) holds up against other cars the same age. The averages combine all fuel types.

Based on 13,457 tests across 5 SEAT models, built around 2008 (17 years old).

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateSEAT average
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
14436.8%
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.

What to check before viewing

The model's most common MOT issues, turned into things you can ask about or look for.

Underbody / chassis corrosion

High priority

Get the car on a ramp or jack point and inspect sills, subframe mounts, and rear suspension mounting points.

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.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

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

Tyres

Worth checking

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

Suspension

Worth checking

Inspect the suspension 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.

Other people carriers to compare

Other people carriers, with each one's figures taken at the same age as the Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift).

  1. 1

    Toyota Alphard

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    21%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    6.2%
    Dangerous
    5.6%

    Lower fail rate: 21.0%, against 36.5% for the SEAT Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift), both built around 2008.

    2,023 MOT tests on cars built around 2008

  2. 2

    Toyota Estima

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    21.1%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    4.5%
    Dangerous
    5.4%

    Lower fail rate: 21.1%, against 36.5% for the SEAT Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift), both built around 2008.

    1,330 MOT tests on cars built around 2008

  3. 3

    Nissan Elgrand

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    23.1%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    8.5%
    Dangerous
    8.2%

    Lower fail rate: 23.1%, against 36.5% for the SEAT Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift), both built around 2008.

    2,345 MOT tests on cars built around 2008

  4. 4

    Volkswagen Caddy

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    29.6%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    9.4%
    Dangerous
    6.9%
    Still registered at 10 years
    88.8%

    Lower fail rate: 29.5%, against 36.5% for the SEAT Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift), both built around 2008.

    6,217 MOT tests on cars built around 2008

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.

How many are still registered

90%of all SEAT Alhambra cars first registered in 2014 to 2015 were still registered 10 years later. This is the whole model, not only this generation.

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

3 of the 13 Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift) recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 1 Critical
  • 2 more

Top concerns

  • Twin-mass flywheel may fail and result in a vehicle fire
  • Bolts of the tandem fuel pump cover may break
  • Windscreen wiper motor may fail

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

What has gone wrong on Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift) cars built around 2008

The share of diesel cars that have ever failed an MOT on each part of the car. Based on 80 cars.

Structural systems

Suspension
76%
Emissions
53%
Drivetrain
53%
Bodywork
11%
Steering
9%

Wear items

Lighting
76%
Tyres
64%
Brakes
61%

Rust, which the MOT calls corrosion: 29% of these cars show rust-related issues at this age.

Check the sills, subframe and brake pipes before you decide.

How Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift) cars have aged

How Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift) cars have aged

How fail rates have changed as these cars got older. Each line follows cars first registered in about the same year across several years of MOT data. Not a prediction for any one car.

0%10%20%30%40%121416182022Age at MOTBuilt around 2009, 12 years old at the time of MOT: 33.4% (434 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2009, 13 years old at the time of MOT: 33.6% (390 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2009, 14 years old at the time of MOT: 33.7% (312 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2009, 15 years old at the time of MOT: 36.9% (298 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2009, 16 years old at the time of MOT: 38.9% (239 tests, 2025 data)2009Built around 2008, 13 years old at the time of MOT: 35.9% (652 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2008, 14 years old at the time of MOT: 34.9% (562 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2008, 15 years old at the time of MOT: 36.2% (459 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2008, 16 years old at the time of MOT: 35.9% (382 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2008, 17 years old at the time of MOT: 34.8% (279 tests, 2025 data)2008Built around 2007, 14 years old at the time of MOT: 35.4% (622 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2007, 15 years old at the time of MOT: 37.6% (524 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2007, 16 years old at the time of MOT: 37.4% (417 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2007, 17 years old at the time of MOT: 38.9% (319 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2007, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 35.0% (223 tests, 2025 data)2007Built around 2006, 15 years old at the time of MOT: 35.6% (620 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2006, 16 years old at the time of MOT: 35.7% (485 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2006, 17 years old at the time of MOT: 36.6% (350 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2006, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 35.0% (257 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2006, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 35.4% (164 tests, 2025 data)2006Built around 2005, 16 years old at the time of MOT: 37.8% (585 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2005, 17 years old at the time of MOT: 37.6% (434 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2005, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 37.9% (309 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2005, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 34.7% (190 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2005, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 37.3% (134 tests, 2025 data)2005Built around 2004, 17 years old at the time of MOT: 37.1% (719 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2004, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 34.9% (490 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2004, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 36.4% (338 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2004, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 37.7% (215 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2004, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 35.7% (143 tests, 2025 data)2004Built around 2003, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 38.3% (428 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2003, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 36.8% (302 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2003, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 38.5% (221 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2003, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 37.0% (135 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2003, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 36.6% (101 tests, 2025 data)2003Built around 2002, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 39.1% (256 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2002, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 39.6% (164 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2002, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 35.9% (92 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2002, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 32.8% (61 tests, 2024 data)2002
First registered around 2009First registered around 2008First registered around 2007First registered around 2006
How each part holds up as Mk1 (7M, facelift) cars age

How each part holds up as Mk1 (7M, facelift) cars age

The share of diesel cars built 2005-2008 that have ever failed an MOT on each part of the car. Rates usually rise with age, but can dip slightly as cars leave the road.

Part of the car17 years18 years19 years20 years
Suspension76%74%64%74%
Brakes61%59%71%72%
Emissions53%47%44%56%
Tyres64%46%57%62%
Lighting76%65%74%81%
Drivetrain53%54%55%57%
Bodywork11%21%21%24%
Steering9%15%11%16%
Corrosion29%40%36%36%

Based on diesel cars in the 2005-2008 build-year band, from 80 to 149 cars at each age.

Mk1 (7M, facelift) variants compared
All generations of this modelNot enough data

Most common issues on SEAT Alhambras of this age

This list covers every SEAT Alhambra built around 2008, whichever generation it is. We don't have a defect list for the Mk1 (7M, facelift) on its own.

Most common advisories and fails

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

  1. 1
    Advisory

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

    32.1%
    Advisory: 201Fail: 63 (24% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Body structure corroded, but not seriously weakened

    19.6%
    Advisory: 117Fail: 35 (23% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

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

    19.0%
    Advisory: 100Fail: 15 (13% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Oil leak, but not excessive

    18.3%
    Advisory: 84Fail: 0 (0% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

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

    15.7%
    Advisory: 99Fail: 3 (3% of the times it was found)

Based on 458 tests

Looking at a SEAT Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2008 (17 years old), the SEAT Alhambra Mk1 (7M, facelift) (2000-2009) fails MOTs noticeably more often than typical for this age. This is based on 458 17-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

*The build year is worked out from the date a car was first used on UK roads. For most cars this matches when it was registered, but imports may differ by a few months.

Data sourced from DVSA MOT History API. From 2,405 MOT tests on SEAT Alhambras first registered between 2000-2009. These figures are a guide, not a guarantee.