2020 SEAT Alhambra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,842 MOT tests, the 2020 SEAT Alhambra recorded an 89.6% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail at 10.9%, so the 2020 Alhambra sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.1%) and lighting & signalling (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and brake pads — pins and bushes alone was recorded 65 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 Alhambra fails 7.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.1% | 144 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 75 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.5% | 72 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.6% | 46 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 37 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.9% | 25 |
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 | 65 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 65 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 63 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 40 |
| 5 | Wipers | 29 |
| 6 | Washers | 14 |
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 | 24.7% | 702 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.3% | 436 |
| 3 | Other defects | 10.6% | 301 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.8% | 223 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 64 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 41 |
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 | 1,226 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,140 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 348 | 12.1% |
| 90-120k | 84 | 8.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,522 | 10.7% |
| Petrol | 320 | 8.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 35 | 5.7% |
| 2022 | 78 | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 926 | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 903 | 11.8% |
| 2025 | 900 | 10.8% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Alhambra
On a 2020 Alhambra, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.1% 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 (2.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2020 SEAT Alhambras pass their MOT?
89.6% of the 2,842 2020 SEAT Alhambra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 SEAT Alhambra?
Tyres, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.6%).
Does the 2020 Alhambra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 8.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,842 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.