SEAT ALTEA Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 888 MOT tests from 54 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®. The figures below describe that VehicleScore® sample. Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are not a claim that every SEAT ALTEA has the same fault.

SEAT ALTEA's have a slightly over average reliability rating of 545/999. The score was calculated from the average of every SEAT ALTEA that has had a registered MOT.

We calculated all of the below figures by getting the score from each vehicle make/model/year/fuel, which are each calculated a score. We then generate the average score, taking into account factors such as mileage and emissions.

Also check BHP & performance, road tax, fuel economy, and CO2 emissions for the SEAT ALTEA.

SEAT ALTEA (example)

Check the reliability of your SEAT Altea

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Fuel Type	Year	Reliability Score	Avg Mileage	Sample Size
Diesel	2014	620/999Good	89,732 miles	714 vehicles
Diesel	2012	578/999Above average	89,283 miles	1,003 vehicles
Diesel	2009	437/999Average	79,711 miles	778 vehicles

How reliable is the SEAT ALTEA?

Based on 888 MOT tests from 54 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®.

Vehicles

MOT tests

888

Pass rate

77.4%

Median mileage

108,886 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every SEAT ALTEA has the same fault. The median VehicleScore® in this sample is 517 out of 999.

Common SEAT ALTEA MOT problems

These groups combine equivalent MOT comments, such as the same tyre note on different corners. Counts are comment occurrences in the sample, not a percentage of cars.

Tyre wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 218 advisory comments and 19 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record tyres that were worn, damaged, or close to the legal tread depth when the car was inspected.

What to inspect

Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT TYRE WORN CLOSE TO LEGAL LIMIT/WORN ON EDGE (5.2.3 (E))

Coil spring issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 33 advisory comments and 22 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record coil springs that were corroded, fractured, or otherwise defective. They are counted separately from shock absorbers.

What to inspect

Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE REAR COIL SPRING CORRODED (5.3.1 (B) (I))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 20 advisory comments and 9 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake pads that were worn or below the inspection limit.

What to inspect

Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.

Example MOT wording: REAR BRAKE PAD(S) WEARING THIN (1.1.13 (A) (II))

Corrosion

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 23 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record corrosion the tester could see on the body or structure. Corrosion already named on a spring, brake, or other component is counted with that component.

What to inspect

Inspect the underside, sills, and subframe for heavy corrosion, especially where an advisory mentions it.

Example MOT wording: REAR SUB-FRAME CORRODED BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (5.3.3 (B) (I))

Brake disc wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 15 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake discs that were worn, scored, pitted, or corroded.

What to inspect

Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE DISC WORN, PITTED OR SCORED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (1.1.14 (A) (II))

Oil leak

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 13 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an oil leak noted by the tester. Shock absorber misting is counted as a damper issue, not as an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.

Example MOT wording: OIL LEAK, BUT NOT EXCESSIVE (8.4.1 (A) (I))

Shock absorber issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 12 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record shock absorbers or dampers that were leaking, misting, or insecure. A light misting of oil on a damper is not an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look for oil misting on the damper body and listen for knocks over bumps.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS HAS A SERIOUS FLUID LEAK (5.3.2 (B))

Anti-roll bar issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 6 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record wear or damage in the anti-roll bar, its links, or its bushes.

What to inspect

Listen for a knock when driving over uneven ground at low speed.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT ANTI-ROLL BAR LINKAGE BALL JOINT DUST COVER NO LONGER PREVENTS THE INGRESS OF DIRT (5.3.4 (B) (II))

SEAT ALTEA MOT reliability by year

A model year is only commented on when VehicleScore® has at least 5 vehicles from that year.

Year	Vehicles	MOT tests	Pass rate	Recurring issues seen
2013	6	74	78.4%	Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
2012	9	134	76.9%	Tyre wear, Corrosion
2010	7	134	71.6%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2009	6	113	73.5%	Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
2008	6	111	81.1%	Tyre wear, Coil spring issues

What to check when buying a used SEAT ALTEA

This is an inspection checklist based on MOT comments in the VehicleScore® sample. It does not mean the car you are looking at has these defects.

Tyre wear. Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.
Coil spring issues. Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.
Brake pad wear. Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.
Corrosion. Inspect the underside, sills, and subframe for heavy corrosion, especially where an advisory mentions it.
Brake disc wear. Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.
Oil leak. Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.
Shock absorber issues. Look for oil misting on the damper body and listen for knocks over bumps.
Anti-roll bar issues. Listen for a knock when driving over uneven ground at low speed.

Buying a SEAT ALTEA?

Common problems tell you what can affect SEAT ALTEAs generally. VehicleScore® can check the history of the actual car you're considering.

Where does this data come from?

VehicleScore® analyses MOT histories from vehicles in its own dataset. Sample sizes vary by model, and a small sample is labelled as such. MOT data records roadworthiness and inspection defects. It does not capture every mechanical or electronic problem a car can have, and a comment on one test is not proof that the model has an inherent fault.

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