2010 Seat Altea Xl — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 783 MOT tests analysed for the 2010 Seat Altea Xl, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 75.2% was below the average for cars of a similar age (77.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 29.7% in the 150k+ group versus 24.0% in the 60-90k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.0% | 133 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 74 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.5% | 59 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.9% | 46 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 32 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 31 |
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 | 61 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 57 |
| 3 | Ball joint dust cover | 56 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 32 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 29 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 23 |
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 | 33.2% | 260 |
| 2 | Tyres | 32.3% | 253 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.3% | 167 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.4% | 89 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.6% | 83 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 61 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 208 | 24.0% |
| 90-120k | 262 | 23.3% |
| 120-150k | 170 | 25.9% |
| 150k+ | 118 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 730 | 24.8% |
| Petrol | 53 | 24.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 178 | 23.0% |
| 2022 | 175 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 160 | 23.8% |
| 2024 | 146 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 124 | 23.4% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Altea Xl
Before buying a 2010 Seat Altea Xl, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 17.0% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (17.0% 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 (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.5% 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 Altea Xls pass their MOT?
75.2% of the 783 2010 Seat Altea Xl MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Seat Altea Xl?
Suspension, recorded in 17.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.4%).
Does the 2010 Altea Xl get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.0% in the 60-90k band to 29.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 783 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.