SEAT Altea Reference MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,122 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 28.3%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
SEAT Altea Reference MOT Reliability Overview
The SEAT Altea Reference is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,122 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 5 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.7% and a failure rate of 28.3%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the SEAT Altea Reference earns a "Very Good" reliability rating. The average SEAT Altea Reference presents for MOT with approximately 63,465 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2007 models achieve the highest pass rate at 76.4%, while 2004 models have the lowest at 66.4%. This 10.0 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the SEAT Altea Reference is Tyres, affecting 18.7% of all tests. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. The second most common issue is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment at 17.8%. Brakes rounds out the top three at 13.5%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
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| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 24.0% | 269 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 21.1% | 237 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.7% | 187 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.4% | 139 |
| 5 | Driver's View Of The Road | 6.2% | 70 |
| 6 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 3.7% | 42 |
| 7 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 2.0% | 22 |
| 8 | Registration Plates And Vin | 1.6% | 18 |
| 9 | Road Wheels | 0.5% | 6 |
| 10 | Steering | 0.4% | 5 |
| 11 | Items Not Tested | 0.4% | 5 |
| 12 | Non-component Advisories | 0.3% | 3 |
| 13 | Body, Structure And General Items | 0.3% | 3 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 63,465 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
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| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 3.78 | 24.0% | 269 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 3.33 | 21.1% | 237 |
| Brakes | 2.63 | 16.7% | 187 |
| Suspension | 1.95 | 12.4% | 139 |
| Visibility | 0.98 | 6.2% | 70 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.59 | 3.7% | 42 |
| Seat Belts | 0.31 | 2.0% | 22 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.25 | 1.6% | 18 |
| Wheels | 0.08 | 0.5% | 6 |
| Steering | 0.07 | 0.4% | 5 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.07 | 0.4% | 5 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.04 | 0.3% | 3 |
| Body & Structure | 0.04 | 0.3% | 3 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average SEAT Altea Reference has 63,465 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The SEAT Altea Reference has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.46% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About SEAT Altea Reference MOT Data
The SEAT Altea Reference is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,122 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 5 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.7% and a failure rate of 28.3%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For SEAT Altea Reference owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on tyres and lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Altea Reference is likely to perform.
Tyres — 18.7% of failures
Tyres issues account for 18.7% of MOT failures on the SEAT Altea Reference. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.8% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 17.8% of MOT failures on the SEAT Altea Reference. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Brakes — 13.5% of failures
Brakes issues account for 13.5% of MOT failures on the SEAT Altea Reference. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the SEAT Altea Reference?
Based on 1,122 MOT tests in our database, the SEAT Altea Reference has an overall pass rate of 71.7% (28.3% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a SEAT Altea Reference?
The top 3 reasons a SEAT Altea Reference fails its MOT are: 1. Tyres (18.7%), 2. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (17.8%), 3. Brakes (13.5%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the SEAT Altea Reference reliable?
With a 28.3% MOT failure rate, the Altea Reference is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my SEAT Altea Reference?
Based on failure data, focus on: Tyres (18.7%); Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (17.8%); Brakes (13.5%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.