2006 SEAT Altea — MOT failures & pass rate
10,659 MOT tests on the 2006 SEAT Altea are in this dataset, and 70.2% of them passed. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (29.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.2%) and lighting & signalling (14.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, headlamp aim and coil spring — joints alone was recorded 820 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.9% versus 18.9%.
The diesel cars hold up better: 29.1% fail against 31.0% for petrol, a 1.9-point gap across 10,659 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.2% | 1,622 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 1,546 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.4% | 1,218 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 1,047 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.0% | 856 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.9% | 738 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 820 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 781 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 772 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 560 |
| 5 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 553 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 529 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.5% | 3,566 |
| 2 | Tyres | 32.6% | 3,475 |
| 3 | Brakes | 32.5% | 3,465 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.5% | 2,190 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.1% | 1,391 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.8% | 1,046 |
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 | 37 | 18.9% |
| 30-60k | 337 | 20.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,757 | 28.9% |
| 90-120k | 3,561 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 3,216 | 30.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,746 | 29.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,983 | 29.1% |
| Petrol | 3,676 | 31.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,329 | 30.2% |
| 2022 | 2,671 | 29.5% |
| 2023 | 2,067 | 30.7% |
| 2024 | 1,515 | 28.9% |
| 2025 | 1,077 | 29.0% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Altea
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.2% 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 (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.4% 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 2006 SEAT Alteas pass their MOT?
70.2% of the 10,659 2006 SEAT Altea MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 SEAT Altea?
Suspension, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.5%).
Does the 2006 Altea get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.9% in the 0-30k band to 29.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,659 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.