2009 SEAT Altea · 5,440 MOT tests
2009 SEAT Altea reliability
2009 SEAT Alteas fail 42.6% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage, ranking 4 of 12 Altea years (5,440 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
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- first-time fail rate (all SEAT Alteas: 41.2%)
- 42.6%
- first-time fail rate (all SEAT Alteas: 41.2%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 2% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 13
- 110,538
- typical miles at its MOT, aged about 13
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
- 5,440
- MOT tests, 2022 to 2024
Year on year
2009 against the years either side
- 2008 cars: 7% more MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2009 car does better)
- 2010 cars: 3% more MOT fails than the average car its age (the 2009 car does better)
- Weak spot: body, chassis and structure, 10.4% of tests fail here (59% above cars of the same age and mileage).
- Strong point: steering, 66% fewer fails than comparable cars.
- Plates: a 2009 car carries a 58 plate (January–February 2009), or a 09 plate (March–August 2009), or a 59 plate (September–December 2009).
Common problems
What fails on a 2009 SEAT Altea
Fail rate by area
- Suspension20%
- Lights and electrics16.5%
- Brakes11.7%
- Body, chassis and structure10.4%
- Tyres7.9%
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks7.7%
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5.6%
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top failures
Coil spring fractured or broken 7.28%
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
CV joint boot split or insecure 5.92%
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
Stop lamp not working 3.6%
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 3.46%
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed 3.31%
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
Position lamp not working 3.12%
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
Common advisories
Tyre worn close to legal limit (20.77%) · Brake disc pitted or scored (12%) · Brake pads wearing thin (7.48%) · Shock absorber light oil misting (7.19%) · Tyre slightly damaged or cracking (7.17%) · Sub-frame showing corrosion (5.88%)
Other years
Every SEAT Altea year
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Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 normal tests.
Is a 2009 SEAT Altea reliable?
2009 SEAT Alteas fail 42.6% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage, ranking 4 of 12 Altea years (5,440 DVSA tests, 2022 to 2024).
What fails on a 2009 SEAT Altea MOT?
Most often coil spring fractured or broken (7.28% of tests), cv joint boot split or insecure (5.92% of tests), stop lamp not working (3.6% of tests).
How many miles should a 2009 SEAT Altea have done?
At its MOT aged about 13, a typical 2009 SEAT Altea shows 110,538 miles. Much higher or lower is worth asking about.
What plate is a 2009 car?
A car first registered in 2009 carries a 58 plate (January–February 2009), or a 09 plate (March–August 2009), or a 59 plate (September–December 2009).
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