2010 SEAT Altea — MOT failures & pass rate
9,637 MOT tests on the 2010 SEAT Altea are in this dataset, and 73.8% of them passed. MPVs of a similar age fail at 25.8%, so the 2010 Altea sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 15.8% of all tests — 6.0 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and ball joint dust cover — coil spring alone was recorded 694 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.1% in the 0-30k band and 29.0% in the 150k+ band, a 9.9-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 26.1% of the time against 27.1% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 31.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.1% in 2021 to 25.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.8% | 1,523 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 944 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.8% | 849 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.3% | 603 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 421 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 352 |
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 | 694 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 548 |
| 3 | Ball joint dust cover | 482 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 470 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 367 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 349 |
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 | 31.9% | 3,072 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.0% | 2,990 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.3% | 2,438 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 1,003 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.2% | 985 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 889 |
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 | 68 | 19.1% |
| 30-60k | 689 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,760 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 3,223 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,891 | 27.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,002 | 29.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,275 | 26.1% |
| Petrol | 1,362 | 27.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,252 | 27.1% |
| 2022 | 2,099 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 1,985 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 1,780 | 27.0% |
| 2025 | 1,521 | 25.2% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Altea
On a 2010 Altea, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.8% 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 (9.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.8% 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 2010 SEAT Alteas pass their MOT?
73.8% of the 9,637 2010 SEAT Altea MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 SEAT Altea?
Suspension, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.8%).
Does the 2010 Altea get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 0-30k band to 29.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,637 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.