2004 SEAT Altea · 1,084 MOT tests
2004 SEAT Altea reliability
2004 SEAT Alteas fail 52.4% of first MOT tests, 16% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 12 of 12 Altea years (1,084 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
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- first-time fail rate (all SEAT Alteas: 41.2%)
- 52.4%
- first-time fail rate (all SEAT Alteas: 41.2%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 16% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 18
- 123,016
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 18
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
- 1,084
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
Year on year
2004 against the years either side
- 2005 cars: 9% more MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2004 car does worse)
- Weak spot: seat belts and airbags, 5.2% of tests fail here (55% above cars of the same age and mileage).
- Strong point: steering, 23% fewer fails than comparable cars.
- Plates: a 2004 car carries a 53 plate (January–February 2004), or a 04 plate (March–August 2004), or a 54 plate (September–December 2004).
Common problems
What fails on a 2004 SEAT Altea
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics26.4%
- Brakes18.5%
- Suspension16.4%
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks11.7%
- Tyres10.7%
- Body, chassis and structure9%
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors7.7%
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top failures
Position lamp not working 8.21%
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
Stop lamp not working 7.56%
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
CV joint boot split or insecure 6.37%
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
Coil spring fractured or broken 5.72%
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 5.44%
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 5.26%
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
Common advisories
Tyre worn close to legal limit (25.37%) · Brake disc pitted or scored (14.85%) · Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear (9.04%) · Engine oil leak, not excessive (8.76%) · Coil spring showing some corrosion (8.58%) · Sub-frame showing corrosion (7.93%)
Other years
Every SEAT Altea year
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Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 normal tests.
Is a 2004 SEAT Altea reliable?
2004 SEAT Alteas fail 52.4% of first MOT tests, 16% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, ranking 12 of 12 Altea years (1,084 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
What fails on a 2004 SEAT Altea MOT?
Most often position lamp not working (8.21% of tests), stop lamp not working (7.56% of tests), cv joint boot split or insecure (6.37% of tests).
How many miles should a 2004 SEAT Altea have done?
At its MOT aged about 18, a typical 2004 SEAT Altea shows 123,016 miles. Much higher or lower is worth asking about.
What plate is a 2004 car?
A car first registered in 2004 carries a 53 plate (January–February 2004), or a 04 plate (March–August 2004), or a 54 plate (September–December 2004).
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