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Seat Altea Reference Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Seat Altea Reference car check

Is the Seat Altea Reference reliable? We analysed 509 real MOT tests across 120 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 509 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
79.2%
Typical Mileage
89,468mi
Annual Mileage
5,242mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Seat Altea Reference is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and coil spring incomplete. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Seat Altea Reference.

Seat Altea Reference Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Seat Altea Reference. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Seat Altea Reference Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Seat Altea Reference fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 4
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 2
coil spring incomplete 1
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault 1
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 1

Seat Altea Reference Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,887 mi/yr
Typical
5,242 mi/yr
Average
5,729 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,082 mi/yr

Seat Altea Reference Mileage Distribution

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

Median
89,468 mi
75th Percentile
114,821 mi
95th Percentile
141,661 mi
Max Recorded
173,967 mi

How Does the Seat Altea Reference Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Seat Altea Reference THIS CAR 79.2% 509 89,468 mi — 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 Alhambra 72.5% 690,916 95,606 mi 30 yrs
Land Rover Defender X-dynamic SE Auto 93.1% 361 30,870 mi — yrs

Compared to the Seat Ibiza (73.7% pass rate) and the Seat Leon (78.0% pass rate), the Seat Altea Reference outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Seat Altea Reference?

The Seat Altea Reference has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.2% across 509 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Seat Altea Reference are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (2), and coil spring incomplete (1). 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 Altea Reference owner drives around 5,242 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.

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.

Seat Altea Reference — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Seat Altea Reference reliable?
Based on 509 MOT tests, the Seat Altea Reference has a 79.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Seat Altea Reference?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and coil spring incomplete. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Seat Altea Reference do per year?
The typical Seat Altea Reference does around 5,242 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Seat Altea Reference last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Seat Altea Reference?
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.