2009 Seat Alhambra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,584 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Seat Alhambra, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 68.8% was below the average for MPVs of a similar age (73.0%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.9% | 462 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 452 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.5% | 296 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.0% | 284 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.0% | 180 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.3% | 137 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 279 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 187 |
| 3 | Joints | 151 |
| 4 | Washers | 150 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 134 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 124 |
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 | 40.4% | 1,044 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.5% | 762 |
| 3 | Brakes | 29.1% | 752 |
| 4 | Other defects | 19.1% | 493 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.3% | 446 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.1% | 364 |
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 | 58 | 29.3% |
| 60-90k | 299 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 627 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 780 | 31.8% |
| 150k+ | 817 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,524 | 31.1% |
| Petrol | 60 | 33.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 650 | 28.5% |
| 2022 | 600 | 29.7% |
| 2023 | 513 | 31.2% |
| 2024 | 457 | 34.6% |
| 2025 | 364 | 34.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Alhambra
Before buying a 2009 Seat Alhambra, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 17.9% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (17.9% 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 (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2009 Seat Alhambras pass their MOT?
68.8% of the 2,584 2009 Seat Alhambra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Seat Alhambra?
Suspension, recorded in 17.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.5%).
Does the 2009 Alhambra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.3% in the 30-60k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,584 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.