2018 SEAT Alhambra — MOT failures & pass rate
14,247 MOT tests on the 2018 SEAT Alhambra are in this dataset, and 88.5% of them passed. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (12.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.2% of tests against 3.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 437 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 Alhambra fails 8.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 12.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.6 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.2% | 884 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 453 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.9% | 413 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 293 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.0% | 284 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 129 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 437 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 379 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 313 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 289 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 207 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 121 |
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 | 25.2% | 3,590 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.6% | 1,796 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.2% | 1,595 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.0% | 1,571 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 461 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 127 |
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 | 3,783 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 5,695 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,543 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,052 | 12.4% |
| 120-150k | 530 | 9.4% |
| 150k+ | 644 | 12.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 13,922 | 11.4% |
| Petrol | 325 | 12.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,838 | 10.9% |
| 2022 | 2,836 | 9.9% |
| 2023 | 2,851 | 11.1% |
| 2024 | 2,858 | 12.4% |
| 2025 | 2,864 | 13.1% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Alhambra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.2% 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 (3.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2018 SEAT Alhambras pass their MOT?
88.5% of the 14,247 2018 SEAT Alhambra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 SEAT Alhambra?
Tyres, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.2%).
Does the 2018 Alhambra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 12.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,247 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.