Seat Alhambra Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Seat Alhambra car check
Is the Seat Alhambra reliable? We analysed 690,916 real MOT tests across 54,940 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Seat Alhambra? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Seat Alhambra is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, position lamp(s) not working and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Seat Alhambra.
Seat Alhambra Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Seat Alhambra. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Seat Alhambra MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Seat Alhambra to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Seat Alhambra Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Seat Alhambra fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Seat Alhambra Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Seat Alhambra owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Seat Alhambra MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Seat Alhambra year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 55 | 78.2% | 17,428 | 29,605 | 41,407 |
| 2020 | 3,227 | 87.5% | 22,387 | 34,744 | 52,172 |
| 2019 | 13,844 | 87.1% | 24,799 | 39,822 | 62,338 |
| 2018 | 16,558 | 85.8% | 29,005 | 46,528 | 71,533 |
| 2017 | 47,903 | 84.9% | 34,549 | 54,398 | 84,822 |
| 2016 | 38,718 | 83.5% | 42,078 | 65,171 | 101,782 |
| 2015 | 24,107 | 81.5% | 48,066 | 72,210 | 106,329 |
| 2014 | 23,646 | 80.1% | 49,752 | 73,696 | 105,703 |
| 2013 | 22,043 | 79.3% | 48,141 | 73,592 | 104,213 |
| 2012 | 22,752 | 78.8% | 53,175 | 82,551 | 116,886 |
| 2011 | 21,775 | 77.7% | 56,067 | 86,907 | 120,730 |
| 2010 | 8,914 | 73.5% | 61,854 | 95,320 | 131,378 |
| 2009 | 11,302 | 70.9% | 65,196 | 99,438 | 138,840 |
| 2008 | 19,441 | 69.5% | 66,118 | 101,087 | 139,693 |
| 2007 | 23,926 | 69.2% | 65,769 | 100,045 | 137,481 |
| 2006 | 28,077 | 69.4% | 68,381 | 102,410 | 140,316 |
| 2005 | 34,497 | 68.7% | 71,904 | 106,114 | 142,888 |
| 2004 | 59,225 | 68.1% | 68,986 | 102,325 | 139,492 |
| 2003 | 52,949 | 68.8% | 70,586 | 104,360 | 139,390 |
| 2002 | 49,283 | 67.5% | 74,878 | 105,771 | 139,480 |
How Long Does a Seat Alhambra Last?
Based on 54,940 Seat Alhambra vehicles on UK roads.
Seat Alhambra Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Seat Alhambra MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Seat Alhambra
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
87.5% MOT pass rate from 3,227 tests
62.8% MOT pass rate from 4,362 tests
The best year to buy a used Seat Alhambra is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.5% across 3,227 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 62.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Seat Alhambra Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Alhambra THIS CAR | 72.5% | 690,916 | 95,606 mi | 30 yrs |
| Seat Ibiza | 73.7% | 3,964,856 | 60,259 mi | 31 yrs |
| Seat Leon | 78% | 3,000,659 | 70,859 mi | 26 yrs |
| Seat Altea | 74.5% | 461,665 | 76,687 mi | 22 yrs |
| Jaguar S-type | 74.5% | 942,176 | 77,805 mi | 27 yrs |
Compared to the Seat Ibiza (73.7% pass rate) and the Seat Leon (78.0% pass rate), the Seat Alhambra trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Seat Alhambra you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Seat AlhambraShould you buy a used Seat Alhambra?
The Seat Alhambra has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.5% across 690,916 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Seat Alhambra are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (23,231 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (19,188), and brake pipe excessively corroded (17,203). 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 Seat Alhambra owner drives around 8,856 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 Seat Alhambra 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.