2013 SEAT Alhambra — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 SEAT Alhambra passed 79.1% of its 9,861 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail at 20.9%, so the 2013 Alhambra sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.3%) and tyres (8.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, malfunction indicator lamp and tread depth — pins and bushes alone was recorded 786 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.1% versus 13.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 30.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.3% | 913 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.7% | 854 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 638 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 492 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.2% | 315 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.4% | 238 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 786 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 459 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 405 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 251 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 248 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 209 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 30.7% | 3,028 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.9% | 2,849 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.2% | 2,088 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.4% | 1,127 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 464 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 292 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 84 | 13.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,082 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 3,395 | 20.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,787 | 22.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,358 | 22.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,155 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,808 | 20.8% |
| Petrol | 53 | 30.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,999 | 18.8% |
| 2022 | 2,022 | 20.4% |
| 2023 | 1,989 | 20.9% |
| 2024 | 1,955 | 21.9% |
| 2025 | 1,896 | 22.6% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Alhambra
On a 2013 Alhambra, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (9.3% 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.
- Tyres (8.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (6.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2013 SEAT Alhambras pass their MOT?
79.1% of the 9,861 2013 SEAT Alhambra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 SEAT Alhambra?
Suspension, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by tyres (8.7%).
Does the 2013 Alhambra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.1% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,861 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.