2014 SEAT Altea — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,804 MOT tests, the 2014 SEAT Altea recorded an 82.6% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail 19.1% of the time, so this is 1.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.2%) and tyres (6.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, shock absorbers and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 299 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.0% in the 0-30k band and 26.9% in the 150k+ band, a 20.0-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 444 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.7% | 322 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.6% | 318 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.4% | 258 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 94 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 76 |
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 | 299 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 134 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 133 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 127 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 122 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 89 |
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 | 28.1% | 1,349 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.4% | 1,075 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.5% | 889 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 395 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.6% | 364 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 208 |
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 | 201 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,412 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,913 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 848 | 20.4% |
| 120-150k | 300 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 130 | 26.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 937 | 12.9% |
| 2022 | 960 | 15.7% |
| 2023 | 951 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 987 | 20.3% |
| 2025 | 969 | 20.5% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Altea
On a 2014 Altea, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.7% 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.
- Suspension (6.6% 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.
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 2014 SEAT Alteas pass their MOT?
82.6% of the 4,804 2014 SEAT Altea MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 SEAT Altea?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by tyres (6.7%).
Does the 2014 Altea get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 26.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,804 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.