MPV and people carrier · 1997–2021 cars

SEAT Alhambra reliability

The SEAT Alhambra fails 26% of first MOT tests, 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 93,439 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

About averageReliability score 54/100#14 of 49 mpv and people carriers

Checking a SEAT Alhambra before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 26%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 4% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 93,439; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 10,700; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the SEAT Alhambra ages

Each point is the share of SEAT Alhambras of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

SEAT AlhambraAll cars

SEAT Alhambra first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	SEAT Alhambra	All cars
3	14.6%	12.3%
4	15.8%	14.1%
5	17%	16.4%
6	19.1%	19.1%
7	21.8%	22.1%
8	25.1%	25.5%
9	28.1%	28.8%
10	31.7%	31.8%
11	34.2%	34.6%
12	37.7%	37.3%
13	41%	39.5%
14	51.5%	41.1%
15	55.3%	42.3%
16	52.6%	42.9%
17	51.7%	43.4%
18	51.9%	43.5%
19	50.8%	43.4%
20	55.5%	42.8%
21	54.2%	41.4%

By year

The best and worst SEAT Alhambra years

2016 cars come out best and 2007 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

SEAT Alhambra MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2020 Alhambra	1,374	15.4%	13% more fails	33,099
2019 Alhambra	7,291	15.2%	1% more fails	39,008
2018 Alhambra	8,723	15.3%	11% fewer fails	47,170
2017 Alhambra	20,455	18.3%	10% fewer fails	61,118
2016 Alhambra	14,289	20.6%	14% fewer fails	77,715
2015 Alhambra	7,431	24.7%	10% fewer fails	87,734
2014 Alhambra	6,408	26.7%	12% fewer fails	92,023
2013 Alhambra	5,342	30.4%	8% fewer fails	94,245
2012 Alhambra	4,872	33%	9% fewer fails	106,550
2011 Alhambra	4,206	35.3%	9% fewer fails	115,448
2010 Alhambra	1,285	41.7%	1% more fails	125,070
2009 Alhambra	1,258	50.1%	17% more fails	132,121
2008 Alhambra	1,903	52.6%	19% more fails	137,883
2007 Alhambra	1,805	55.3%	23% more fails	136,261
2006 Alhambra	1,581	51.7%	13% more fails	143,899
2005 Alhambra	1,362	50.7%	10% more fails	145,693
2004 Alhambra	1,691	51.7%	12% more fails	146,543
2003 Alhambra	1,077	53.4%	16% more fails	150,011
2002	512	56.6%	26% more fails	142,857
2001	202	50.5%	15% more fails	138,762

Common problems

What fails most on a SEAT Alhambra

Its weak spot is seat belts and airbags: 45% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Suspension9.1%13% above avg
Tyres8.7%31% above avg
Lights and electrics7.9%26% below avg
Brakes5.1%21% below avg
Body, chassis and structure3.3%12% above avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors2.9%33% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.8%6% below avg
Seat belts and airbags1.4%45% above avg
Steering1.2%33% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 3.43% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
2
Tyre ply or cords exposed 3.15% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
3
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.21% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
4
Position lamp not working 1.78% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
5
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 1.58% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
6
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.41% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
7
Diesel engine warning light faulty 1.36% of tests
A lit or non-working engine warning light can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
8
Coil spring fractured or broken 1.2% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a SEAT Alhambra's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit18.62%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear12.33%
Brake disc pitted or scored9.15%
Brake pads wearing thin7.13%
Child seat limits belt inspection4.14%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking4.09%

Before you buy

What to check on a used SEAT Alhambra

1
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
2
Tyre ply or cords exposed
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
3
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
4
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical SEAT Alhambra covers about 10,700 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Diesel97.9%
Petrol2.1%
LPG0%

Most common colours

Silver, Grey, Black, Blue, Red

Average engine size: 2.0 litres.

Compare

How the SEAT Alhambra compares with its rivals

SEAT Alhambra against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Toyota Estima	20.8%	37% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Volkswagen Sharan	25.4%	11% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Toyota Verso	27.6%	8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
SEAT Alhambra	26%	4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford Grand C-Max	31%	15% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Renault Scenic	44.1%	27% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Renault Grand Scenic	46.3%	33% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every mpv and people carrier ranked in the mpv and people carrier reliability index, or all SEAT models.

Questions

SEAT Alhambra questions, answered

Is the SEAT Alhambra reliable?

On MOT results, the SEAT Alhambra is about average: it fails 26% of first MOT tests, 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 14 of 49 mpv and people carrier models in our index.

What fails most on a SEAT Alhambra MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the SEAT Alhambra are suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn (3.43% of tests), tyre ply or cords exposed (3.15% of tests), tyre tread below 1.6mm (2.21% of tests). By area, suspension fails 9.1% of its tests.

Which SEAT Alhambra year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2016 cars do best (14% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2007 cars do worst (23% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a SEAT Alhambra do a year?

A typical SEAT Alhambra covers about 10,700 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a SEAT Alhambra before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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