1997 SEAT Alhambra — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

61.1%

Latest Pass Rate

9,643

Total Tests (All Years)

119,098 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 SEAT Alhambra as it ages.

12 yrs43.5%

→ ↑0.1%

13 yrs43.6%

→ ↓4.0%

14 yrs39.6%

→ ↓0.5%

15 yrs39.1%

→ ↑1.0%

16 yrs40.1%

→ ↓2.7%

17 yrs37.4%

→ ↑8.1%

18 yrs45.5%

→ ↑0.6%

19 yrs46.1%

→ ↑1.3%

20 yrs47.4%

→ ↑2.6%

21 yrs50.0%

→ ↓13.3%

22 yrs36.7%

→ ↑19.1%

23 yrs55.8%

→ ↑4.7%

24 yrs60.5%

→ ↑0.6%

27 yrs61.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	43.5%	2,158
13 yrs	43.6%	1,921
14 yrs	39.6%	1,609
15 yrs	39.1%	1,230
16 yrs	40.1%	907
17 yrs	37.4%	618
18 yrs	45.5%	446
19 yrs	46.1%	297
20 yrs	47.4%	194
21 yrs	50.0%	86
22 yrs	36.7%	60
23 yrs	55.8%	43
24 yrs	60.5%	38
27 yrs	61.1%	36

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 SEAT Alhambra pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (27 yrs)	61.1%	36
2021 (24 yrs)	60.5%	38
2020 (23 yrs)	55.8%	43
2019 (22 yrs)	36.7%	60
2018 (21 yrs)	50%	86
2017 (20 yrs)	47.4%	194
2016 (19 yrs)	46.1%	297
2015 (18 yrs)	45.5%	446
2014 (17 yrs)	37.4%	618
2013 (16 yrs)	40.1%	907
2012 (15 yrs)	39.1%	1,230
2011 (14 yrs)	39.6%	1,609
2010 (13 yrs)	43.6%	1,921
2009 (12 yrs)	43.5%	2,158

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

43.5%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 2,158Avg Mileage 130,872Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.6%

2010High Fail Rate

43.6%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,921Avg Mileage 137,160Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.0%

2011High Fail Rate

39.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 1,609Avg Mileage 141,427Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.4%

2012High Fail Rate

39.1%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 1,230Avg Mileage 145,940Top Failure Suspension — 40.2%

2013High Fail Rate

40.1%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 907Avg Mileage 148,319Top Failure Brakes — 99.0%

2014High Fail Rate

37.4%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 618Avg Mileage 150,601Top Failure Brakes — 112.9%

2015High Fail Rate

45.5%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 446Avg Mileage 150,495Top Failure Brakes — 96.9%

2016High Fail Rate

46.1%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 297Avg Mileage 154,012Top Failure Suspension — 94.3%

2017High Fail Rate

47.4%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 194Avg Mileage 152,217Top Failure Suspension — 95.9%

2018High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 86Avg Mileage 150,142Top Failure Suspension — 90.7%

2019High Fail Rate

36.7%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 60Avg Mileage 144,068Top Failure Suspension — 133.3%

2020High Fail Rate

55.8%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 43Avg Mileage 142,271Top Failure Brakes — 102.3%

2021High Fail Rate

60.5%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 38Avg Mileage 141,477Top Failure Suspension — 71.1%

2024High Fail Rate

61.1%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 36Avg Mileage 119,098Top Failure Brakes — 77.8%

MOT results for 1997 SEAT Alhambra by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	43.5%	2,158	130,872	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.6%
2010	13	43.6%	1,921	137,160	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.0%
2011	14	39.6%	1,609	141,427	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.4%
2012	15	39.1%	1,230	145,940	Suspension — 40.2%
2013	16	40.1%	907	148,319	Brakes — 99.0%
2014	17	37.4%	618	150,601	Brakes — 112.9%
2015	18	45.5%	446	150,495	Brakes — 96.9%
2016	19	46.1%	297	154,012	Suspension — 94.3%
2017	20	47.4%	194	152,217	Suspension — 95.9%
2018	21	50.0%	86	150,142	Suspension — 90.7%
2019	22	36.7%	60	144,068	Suspension — 133.3%
2020	23	55.8%	43	142,271	Brakes — 102.3%
2021	24	60.5%	38	141,477	Suspension — 71.1%
2024	27	61.1%	36	119,098	Brakes — 77.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 SEAT Alhambra, with age trends.

Brakes

77.1%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

73.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

52.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

45.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

34.3%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	25.9% (12 yrs)	77.8% (27 yrs)	+51.9%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	32.8% (12 yrs)	77.8% (27 yrs)	+45.0%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	19.6% (12 yrs)	33.3% (27 yrs)	+13.7%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the SEAT Alhambra page →

About This Data

This page shows how SEAT Alhambra cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 9,643 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.