2001 SEAT Alhambra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 464 MOT tests, the 2001 SEAT Alhambra recorded a 67.2% pass rate. Against MPVs of a similar age (29.7% fail rate), the 2001 Alhambra comes out 3.1pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (20.7%) and lighting & signalling (20.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 83 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2001 Alhambra fails 38.1% of the time in the 60-90k band and 34.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.5 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 45.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 33.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 37.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.7% | 96 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 20.3% | 94 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.3% | 57 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.3% | 48 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.7% | 31 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 83 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 46 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 35 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 32 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 31 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 29 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 45.5% | 211 |
| 2 | Suspension | 44.0% | 204 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.5% | 137 |
| 4 | Other defects | 27.2% | 126 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.6% | 114 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.0% | 65 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 42 | 38.1% |
| 90-120k | 72 | 30.6% |
| 120-150k | 135 | 30.4% |
| 150k+ | 188 | 34.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 361 | 32.7% |
| Petrol | 103 | 33.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 179 | 33.5% |
| 2022 | 120 | 35.0% |
| 2023 | 84 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 44 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 37 | 37.8% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Alhambra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 20.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (20.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (20.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.3% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2001 SEAT Alhambras pass their MOT?
67.2% of the 464 2001 SEAT Alhambra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 SEAT Alhambra?
Suspension, recorded in 20.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (20.3%).
Does the 2001 Alhambra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 38.1% in the 60-90k band to 34.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 464 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.