2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 SEAT Alhambra MOT pass rate and common faults

1,409 MOT tests in 2024. 65.8% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

102Above average
Passed first time65.8%
Failed or needed repairs34.2%
Typical mileage at test113,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,409 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction5.7%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.6%
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed5.0%
    103 marked dangerous
  4. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.7%
  5. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.2%
  6. Side repeaters: not working2.5%
  7. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
    43 marked dangerous
  8. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.8%
  9. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.7%
    29 marked dangerous
  10. Position lamp: not working1.6%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension17.7%
  2. Lights & electrics15.0%
  3. Tyres12.4%
  4. Emissions & leaks7.5%
  5. Brakes5.5%
  6. Body & chassis3.3%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.2%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm23.6%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn19.4%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened15.4%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick11.8%
  5. Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened10.0%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 SEAT Alhambra?

In 2024, 65.8% of 2012 SEAT Alhambra cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,409 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 SEAT Alhambra?

The most common failure reasons were malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2012 SEAT Alhambra reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 102, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).