2015 SEAT Alhambra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 13,152 MOT tests, the 2015 SEAT Alhambra recorded an 83.1% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail at 17.1%, so the 2015 Alhambra sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (8.5%) and suspension (6.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, tread depth and malfunction indicator lamp — pins and bushes alone was recorded 854 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2015 Alhambra fails 15.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 16.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.5% | 1,117 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.2% | 813 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 573 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.7% | 353 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 343 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.2% | 295 |
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 | 854 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 464 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 309 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 249 |
| 5 | Wipers | 205 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 194 |
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 | 28.5% | 3,745 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.1% | 3,044 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.4% | 2,548 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.1% | 1,597 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 552 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 457 |
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 | 260 | 15.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,589 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 4,223 | 17.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,657 | 17.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,389 | 16.4% |
| 150k+ | 2,033 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 13,068 | 16.9% |
| Petrol | 84 | 14.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,699 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 2,601 | 15.8% |
| 2023 | 2,675 | 17.1% |
| 2024 | 2,618 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 2,559 | 18.4% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Alhambra
On a 2015 Alhambra, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (8.5% 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.
- Suspension (6.2% 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 (4.4% 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 2015 SEAT Alhambras pass their MOT?
83.1% of the 13,152 2015 SEAT Alhambra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 SEAT Alhambra?
Tyres, recorded in 8.5% of tests, followed by suspension (6.2%).
Does the 2015 Alhambra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.4% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,152 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.