2016 SEAT Alhambra — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 SEAT Alhambra passed 85.8% of its 24,424 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 15.3% of the time, so this is 1.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.7% of tests against 4.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, tread depth and brake pads — pins and bushes alone was recorded 1,366 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 Alhambra fails 9.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 12.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.8 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 13.5% of the time against 14.3% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.7% | 1,875 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.5% | 1,103 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 798 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.8% | 689 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 453 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 405 |
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 | 1,366 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 831 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 448 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 444 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 371 |
| 6 | Wipers | 354 |
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 | 26.3% | 6,413 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.1% | 4,670 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.5% | 4,285 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.1% | 2,707 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 806 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 322 |
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 | 1,184 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 6,880 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 6,944 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,582 | 15.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,084 | 13.6% |
| 150k+ | 3,748 | 12.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 23,824 | 14.3% |
| Petrol | 600 | 13.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,834 | 12.0% |
| 2022 | 4,912 | 13.3% |
| 2023 | 4,942 | 14.4% |
| 2024 | 4,905 | 15.6% |
| 2025 | 4,831 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Alhambra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.7% 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.
- Suspension (4.5% 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 (3.3% 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 2016 SEAT Alhambras pass their MOT?
85.8% of the 24,424 2016 SEAT Alhambra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 SEAT Alhambra?
Tyres, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by suspension (4.5%).
Does the 2016 Alhambra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 12.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,424 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.