2004 SEAT Altea — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 SEAT Altea passed 69.2% of its 2,440 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (30.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests against 13.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and flexible brake hoses — headlamp aim alone was recorded 226 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.0% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 29.8% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 30.3% of the time against 31.7% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 35.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.1% in 2021 to 26.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 471 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.3% | 325 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.2% | 321 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 213 |
| 5 | Tyres | 8.2% | 200 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 184 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 226 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 195 |
| 3 | Flexible brake hoses | 161 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 160 |
| 5 | Joints | 153 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 149 |
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 | 35.7% | 872 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.8% | 848 |
| 3 | Suspension | 34.3% | 838 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 366 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 350 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.2% | 321 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 70 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 392 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 697 | 33.1% |
| 120-150k | 714 | 32.2% |
| 150k+ | 561 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,560 | 30.3% |
| Petrol | 880 | 31.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 856 | 31.1% |
| 2022 | 617 | 32.1% |
| 2023 | 451 | 29.5% |
| 2024 | 313 | 32.3% |
| 2025 | 203 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Altea
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.3% 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.
- Brakes (13.2% 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 2004 SEAT Alteas pass their MOT?
69.2% of the 2,440 2004 SEAT Altea MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 SEAT Altea?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests, followed by suspension (13.3%).
Does the 2004 Altea get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 30-60k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,440 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.