2009 · 15 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2009 SEAT Altea MOT pass rate and common faults

1,584 MOT tests in 2024. 56.9% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

97Below average
Passed first time56.9%
Failed or needed repairs43.1%
Typical mileage at test114,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,584 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken7.2%
  2. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt6.7%
  3. Service brake performance: excessively binding4.1%
  4. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.5%
  5. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.3%
  6. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.3%
    73 marked dangerous
  7. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.3%
    58 marked dangerous
  8. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.2%
  9. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.2%
    67 marked dangerous
  10. Stop lamp: not working3.0%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension26.3%
  2. Lights & electrics25.2%
  3. Brakes20.6%
  4. Body & chassis12.2%
  5. Emissions & leaks10.4%
  6. Tyres10.3%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.9%
  8. Steering2.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm24.7%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened13.5%
  3. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened9.5%
  4. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak9.0%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure8.6%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. 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 2009 SEAT Altea?

In 2024, 56.9% of 2009 SEAT Altea cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,584 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 SEAT Altea?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; service brake performance: excessively binding. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2009 SEAT Altea reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 97, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).