Seat Altea Reference TDI Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Seat Altea Reference TDI car check
Is the Seat Altea Reference TDI reliable? We analysed 927 real MOT tests across 197 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Seat Altea Reference TDI? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Seat Altea Reference TDI is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, coil spring incomplete and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Seat Altea Reference TDI.
Seat Altea Reference TDI Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Seat Altea Reference TDI. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Seat Altea Reference TDI Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Seat Altea Reference TDI fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Seat Altea Reference TDI Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Seat Altea Reference TDI owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Seat Altea Reference TDI Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Seat Altea Reference TDI MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
How Does the Seat Altea Reference TDI 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 TDI THIS CAR | 74.4% | 927 | 133,144 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 |
| Vauxhall Combo Life Elite S/s Auto | 85.6% | 1,588 | 21,301 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Seat Ibiza (73.7% pass rate) and the Seat Leon (78.0% pass rate), the Seat Altea Reference TDI sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Seat Altea Reference TDI 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 Altea Reference TDIShould you buy a used Seat Altea Reference TDI?
The Seat Altea Reference TDI has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.4% across 927 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Seat Altea Reference TDI are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5 recorded failures), coil spring incomplete (3), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (2). 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 TDI owner drives around 7,392 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.