2007 SEAT Altea — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 SEAT Altea passed 71.2% of its 17,715 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail at 29.0%, so the 2007 Altea sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.7%) and lighting & signalling (14.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and joints — coil spring alone was recorded 1,414 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.9% once past 150k — 4.6× the risk.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 1.8pp more often than diesel ones (30.3% vs 28.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.7% | 2,772 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 2,522 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.3% | 1,834 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 1,463 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.6% | 1,173 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 1,130 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,414 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,347 |
| 3 | Joints | 980 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 888 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 804 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 768 |
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 | 34.4% | 6,089 |
| 2 | Tyres | 32.0% | 5,674 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.5% | 5,048 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.9% | 3,001 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.2% | 2,159 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 2,086 |
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 | 31 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 619 | 22.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,850 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 5,714 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 5,322 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 3,174 | 29.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 13,590 | 28.4% |
| Petrol | 4,125 | 30.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,031 | 29.0% |
| 2022 | 4,317 | 28.9% |
| 2023 | 3,521 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 2,746 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 2,100 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Altea
On a 2007 Altea, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.7% 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 (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.3% 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 2007 SEAT Alteas pass their MOT?
71.2% of the 17,715 2007 SEAT Altea MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 SEAT Altea?
Suspension, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.2%).
Does the 2007 Altea get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 29.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,715 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.