SEAT Alhambra MOT pass rates & common failures

Every completed first-attempt MOT on a SEAT Alhambra in Great Britain in 2025 — 25,949 tests. Figures cover every Alhambra first-tested in 2025, all trims grouped. How the Alhambra ages, what it fails on, and what mileage is normal, computed directly from the official DVSA record of every test.

Pass rate 2025
74.5%
2.2 points above the class-4 average (72.3%); unadjusted for age — the age-matched comparison is below
Tests analysed
25,949
first tests, 2025
Arrived with a dangerous fault
9.0%
of Alhambra first tests; national 7.3%
Typical mileage at 10 years
103,750
middle half: 81,250–146,250 miles (2,500-mile-band midpoints)

How many SEAT Alhambra cars are still on the road?

At the end of 2025, DVLA's register held 27,804 SEAT Alhambra cars that were taxed or on SORN: 24,249 taxed and 3,555 on SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification — kept, but declared off the road by the keeper). The MOT figures above count tests; these count cars, across the whole United Kingdom, cars only. SEAT Alhambra vans, where they exist, are counted by DVLA as goods vehicles and are not in these figures.

Still taxed, end of 2025
24,249
87.2% of the 27,804 Alhambra cars taxed or on SORN; 78 model variants grouped
On SORN, end of 2025
3,555
declared off the road by their keepers — 12.8% of that total

How the numbers are moving

The number of taxed Alhambra cars peaked at 32,304 at the end of 2018 and has since fallen by 8,055 (24.9%) to 24,249 at the end of 2025. Cars on SORN went from 1,228 at the end of 2014 to 3,555 at the end of 2025, up 189.5%. A car leaves the taxed count when it is scrapped, exported or declared off the road; the year-end counts do not say which.

Taxed Alhambra cars, year by year

Cars of this model taxed and on the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025.

010k20k30k40k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Taxed Alhambra cars, year 2014: 27kTaxed Alhambra cars, year 2015: 27kTaxed Alhambra cars, year 2016: 29kTaxed Alhambra cars, year 2017: 32kTaxed Alhambra cars, year 2018: 32kTaxed Alhambra cars, year 2019: 32kTaxed Alhambra cars, year 2020: 31kTaxed Alhambra cars, year 2021: 29kTaxed Alhambra cars, year 2022: 28kTaxed Alhambra cars, year 2023: 27kTaxed Alhambra cars, year 2024: 25kTaxed Alhambra cars, year 2025: 24k24k
View this chart as a table
YearTaxed Alhambra cars
201427,151
201527,354
201629,379
201732,295
201832,304
201932,181
202030,777
202129,389
202227,967
202326,531
202425,203
202524,249

Alhambra cars on SORN, year by year

Cars of this model declared off the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025. Its own scale — SORN counts are a fraction of the taxed count.

01k2k3k4k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Alhambra cars on SORN, year 2014: 1kAlhambra cars on SORN, year 2015: 2kAlhambra cars on SORN, year 2016: 2kAlhambra cars on SORN, year 2017: 2kAlhambra cars on SORN, year 2018: 3kAlhambra cars on SORN, year 2019: 3kAlhambra cars on SORN, year 2020: 3kAlhambra cars on SORN, year 2021: 3kAlhambra cars on SORN, year 2022: 3kAlhambra cars on SORN, year 2023: 3kAlhambra cars on SORN, year 2024: 3kAlhambra cars on SORN, year 2025: 4k4k
View this chart as a table
YearAlhambra cars on SORN
20141,228
20151,556
20161,998
20172,410
20182,684
20192,992
20203,239
20213,267
20223,262
20233,404
20243,433
20253,555

Which model years survive

Taxed Alhambra cars at the end of 2025 by year of manufacture, and each year's share of the 24,249 taxed in all. Every build year holding at least 1% has its own row; the rest share one. A build year's count depends on how many were sold that year as well as how many have lasted.

Year of manufacture Taxed, end of 2025Share of taxed Alhambra cars
20207363.0%
20192,4009.9%
20182,2519.3%
20175,28721.8%
20163,71715.3%
20152,1258.8%
20141,8207.5%
20131,4926.2%
20121,3535.6%
20111,1644.8%
20103171.3%
20083141.3%
20072611.1%
All other build years (14 years, each under 1%)1,0124.2%

Population source: Department for Transport / DVLA vehicle licensing statistics, table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026; counts of the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, United Kingdom, cars only, excluding cars recorded with no model name. SortedCars groups DVLA's model name ALHAMBRA under this model. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, DVLA or the Department for Transport.

How the Alhambra ages

First-time pass rate by vehicle age, Alhambra vs all cars, 2025.

SEAT AlhambraAll cars
50%60%70%80%90%100%3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)SEAT Alhambra, vehicle age 5: 86.6%SEAT Alhambra, vehicle age 6: 84.5%SEAT Alhambra, vehicle age 7: 81.4%SEAT Alhambra, vehicle age 8: 79.7%SEAT Alhambra, vehicle age 9: 77.2%SEAT Alhambra, vehicle age 10: 73.6%SEAT Alhambra, vehicle age 11: 69.5%SEAT Alhambra, vehicle age 12: 66.8%SEAT Alhambra, vehicle age 13: 65.6%SEAT Alhambra, vehicle age 14: 65.3%All cars, vehicle age 3: 88.5%All cars, vehicle age 4: 87.2%All cars, vehicle age 5: 86%All cars, vehicle age 6: 83.5%All cars, vehicle age 7: 80.9%All cars, vehicle age 8: 78.2%All cars, vehicle age 9: 74.9%All cars, vehicle age 10: 71.9%All cars, vehicle age 11: 68.6%All cars, vehicle age 12: 65.8%All cars, vehicle age 13: 63.5%All cars, vehicle age 14: 61.2%All cars, vehicle age 15: 59.3%All cars, vehicle age 16: 58.3%All cars, vehicle age 17: 57.2%All cars, vehicle age 18: 57.4%All cars, vehicle age 19: 57%All cars, vehicle age 20: 57.6%SEAT Alhambra 65.3%All cars 57.6%
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Alhambra testsAlhambra pass rateAll cars
581186.6%86.0%
62,54984.5%83.5%
72,51081.4%80.9%
85,91279.7%78.2%
94,09977.2%74.9%
102,10873.6%71.9%
111,79669.5%68.6%
121,49066.8%65.8%
131,34365.6%63.5%
141,14865.3%61.2%

Better or worse than the average car?

The Alhambra's pass rate minus the all-cars pass rate at each age, in percentage points. Bars above zero: the Alhambra beats the average car of that age. Below zero: it trails.

Alhambra ahead
-6-3+0+3+6Age 5: +0.6 points vs the average car5Age 6: +1.0 points vs the average carAge 7: +0.5 points vs the average car7Age 8: +1.5 points vs the average carAge 9: +2.3 points vs the average car9Age 10: +1.7 points vs the average carAge 11: +0.9 points vs the average car11Age 12: +1.0 points vs the average carAge 13: +2.1 points vs the average car13Age 14: +4.1 points vs the average carVehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Gap (points)
5+0.6
6+1.0
7+0.5
8+1.5
9+2.3
10+1.7
11+0.9
12+1.0
13+2.1
14+4.1

The Alhambra fleet on the road, by age

How many took a first MOT in 2025 at each age — the shape of the Alhambra fleet still in use.

01k3k4k6kAge 5: 8115Age 6: 2kAge 7: 2k7Age 8: 5kAge 9: 4k9Age 10: 2kAge 11: 1k11Age 12: 1kAge 13: 1k13Age 14: 1k14Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)First tests
5811
62,549
72,510
85,912
94,099
102,108
111,796
121,490
131,343
141,148

What an Alhambra fails on

Where the failure items land when an Alhambra fails or needs a fix at test, 2025. Use it as a pre-purchase checklist: these are the areas to look at first.

Suspension27.7%
Tyres22.3%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment16.0%
Brakes11.5%
Body, chassis, structure6.2%
Noise, emissions and leaks5.6%
Visibility4.8%
Steering2.2%

Share of all failure items, 2025 — the 8 biggest categories shown (96.3% of the items); smaller categories are not listed.

The advisories to watch

Where testers most often write "keep an eye on this" for a Alhambra, 2025 — the faults in the post.

Suspension: 34.3% of advisories34.3%Tyres: 30.0% of advisories30.0%Brakes: 20.0% of advisories20.0%Non-component advisories: 6.9% of advisoriesIdentification of the vehicle: 2.5% of advisoriesNoise, emissions and leaks: 2.4% of advisories
SuspensionTyresBrakesNon-component advisoriesIdentification of the vehicleNoise, emissions and leaks
View this chart as a table
CategoryShare of advisories
Suspension34.3%
Tyres30.0%
Brakes20.0%
Non-component advisories6.9%
Identification of the vehicle2.5%
Noise, emissions and leaks2.4%

Petrol, diesel or hybrid Alhambra?

First-time pass rate for the two most-tested Alhambra fuel types, 2025, against the all-cars average. Fleet ages differ by fuel — newer fleets help the electrified bars.

50%60%70%80%90%100%all cars 72.3%Diesel: 74.4% of 25,322 tests74.4%Diesel25,322 testsPetrol: 76.1% of 624 tests76.1%Petrol624 tests
View this chart as a table
FuelTestsPass rate
Diesel25,32274.4%
Petrol62476.1%

What mileage is normal for an Alhambra?

Mileage recorded at test by vehicle age, 2025. The line is the typical (median) Alhambra; the shaded band holds the middle half. A car far outside the band, in either direction, is worth questions the recorded history can answer.

Typical Alhambra (median)
0k25k50k75k100k125k150k175k579111314Vehicle age (years)Age 5: typical 46,250 miles (middle half 31,250–66,250)Age 6: typical 58,750 miles (middle half 38,750–86,250)Age 7: typical 68,750 miles (middle half 48,750–106,250)Age 8: typical 83,750 miles (middle half 61,250–131,250)Age 9: typical 98,750 miles (middle half 71,250–151,250)Age 10: typical 103,750 miles (middle half 81,250–146,250)Age 11: typical 106,250 miles (middle half 83,750–136,250)Age 12: typical 108,750 miles (middle half 86,250–136,250)Age 13: typical 118,750 miles (middle half 98,750–148,750)Age 14: typical 128,750 miles (middle half 106,250–156,250)128k mi

Mileage values are midpoints of 2,500-mile bands.

View this chart as a table
Age (years)Lower quarterTypical (median)Upper quarter
531,25046,25066,250
638,75058,75086,250
748,75068,750106,250
861,25083,750131,250
971,25098,750151,250
1081,250103,750146,250
1183,750106,250136,250
1286,250108,750136,250
1398,750118,750148,750
14106,250128,750156,250

What fails at each age

The Alhambra's failure mix by age band, 2025 — each band's top categories at their true share of that band's failure items; the pale remainder is everything else. How the mix shifts with age is the point of the chart.

TyresSuspensionBrakesLamps, reflectors and electrical equipmentRoad WheelsNoise, emissions and leaksBody, chassis, structureEverything else
View this chart as a table
Age bandCategoryShare of the band's failure items
3-5 yrsTyres43.3%
3-5 yrsSuspension19.3%
3-5 yrsBrakes12.9%
3-5 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment11.7%
3-5 yrsRoad Wheels3.5%
3-5 yrsEverything else9.3%
6-9 yrsTyres36.6%
6-9 yrsSuspension24.9%
6-9 yrsBrakes13.6%
6-9 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment8.9%
6-9 yrsNoise, emissions and leaks4.5%
6-9 yrsEverything else11.5%
10-13 yrsSuspension35.0%
10-13 yrsTyres24.9%
10-13 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment12.1%
10-13 yrsBrakes10.3%
10-13 yrsNoise, emissions and leaks7.2%
10-13 yrsEverything else10.5%
14+ yrsSuspension32.6%
14+ yrsBody, chassis, structure15.7%
14+ yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment15.2%
14+ yrsBrakes13.1%
14+ yrsTyres8.2%
14+ yrsEverything else15.2%

More vehicles we've checked

How these figures are computed. Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from the DVSA anonymised MOT results dataset (every MOT test in Great Britain — 2025 for single-year figures; trend figures state their span, currently 2023–2025). Where a figure comes from a sample or uses banded values (mileage is banded to 2,500 miles), the page says so beside the figure. Test class 4 only, first tests only — retests are excluded. Class 4 is the car MOT class and also covers car-derived vans, pickups and motorhomes tested to the same standard; where this page says "cars" it means class 4. Pass rate = passes ÷ (passes + failures + pass-after-rectification): a vehicle that failed and was fixed during the visit counts as a fail. Pass rates describe fleets, not individual machines: they reflect how cars were driven, maintained and used as well as how they were built, and beyond recorded mileage none of that is in the data. A well-kept example of a model with a weak average can still pass; a neglected example of a strong one can still fail. No figure is shown for any group with fewer than 500 tests. Alias spellings of a make in the DVSA file are counted under one make name, and all trims and variants of a model are grouped under one model name, using SortedCars' grouping tables. The taxed and SORN counts on this page are the one exception: they are not computed from MOT records but taken from the Department for Transport's vehicle licensing statistics (DfT/DVLA table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0), which count the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, UK-wide, cars only. They describe a model as a whole, grouped under SortedCars' model names, and say nothing about any one car. “Dangerous” is DVSA's statutory defect category (in force since May 2018): a defect posing an immediate risk to road safety — driving the vehicle before repair is an offence. What these figures are for. These statistics are general information about groups of vehicles. They are not advice, a valuation or a recommendation to buy, avoid or price any particular vehicle, and no decision about one car should rest on them alone — check the car itself and its own records. We take care over the calculations, but we cannot guarantee they are complete, current or free of error, and we accept no liability for loss arising from reliance on them. This does not limit any liability that cannot lawfully be limited — see our Terms & Conditions. If you believe any figure on this page is inaccurate, contact us. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the DVSA or DVLA. DVSA publishes the raw test records; the statistics on this page are SortedCars' own calculations from them. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.