Seat Alhambra
Registered from 1997 to 2020.
About this model
The SEAT Alhambra is a seven-seater minivan that was built from 1996 to 2020. It was manufactured under the SEAT brand from June 1996 onwards at the Volkswagen Group's AutoEuropa plant in Palmela, Portugal. It shares the same platform with the Volkswagen Sharan, and the first generation was also related to the Ford Galaxy. The vehicle is named after the Alhambra of Granada, a famous monument in Spain. It is considered in the motor industry to be a large multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).
From the Wikipedia article SEAT Alhambra, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2017 2.0 diesel. 859 of 6,884 tests failed, 12%.
Better than 43% of 2017 cars. The typical one fails 12%, across 926 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres and wheels | 56% | 479 |
| Suspension | 25% | 215 |
| Brakes | 17% | 143 |
| Lights and electrics | 11% | 97 |
| Visibility | 8% | 68 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 5% | 43 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Tyres and wheels — 56% of its failures
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Suspension — 25% of its failures
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Brakes — 17% of its failures
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Exhaust and emissions — 5% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 11% of its failures
- A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Visibility — 8% of its failures
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 200k+ miles this one fails 9% of its inspections, against the 18% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 8% | 6% | 232 | |
| 20–40k miles | 12% | 10% | 1,192 | |
| 40–60k miles | 14% | 13% | 2,013 | |
| 60–80k miles | 14% | 15% | 1,285 | |
| 80–100k miles | 13% | 16% | 737 | |
| 100–120k miles | 11% | 17% | 475 | |
| 120–140k miles | 10% | 17% | 320 | |
| 140–160k miles | 10% | 17% | 239 | |
| 160–180k miles | 12% | 17% | 180 | |
| 180–200k miles | 9% | 17% | 95 | |
| 200k+ miles | 9% | 18% | 116 |
6,884 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 60k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2.0 diesel · 1856 kg · 2920 mm wheelbase · 6.8 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 2.0 diesel · 1855 kg · 2920 mm wheelbase · 6.8 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 2.0 diesel · 1847 kg · 2920 mm wheelbase · 6.8 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 2.0 diesel · 155 hp · 1825 kg · 2920 mm wheelbase · 5.2 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 2.0 diesel · 153 hp · 1861 kg · 2920 mm wheelbase · 5.3 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 2.0 diesel · 146 hp · 1844 kg · 2920 mm wheelbase · 5.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 2.0 diesel · 143 hp · 1851 kg · 2920 mm wheelbase · 5.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 2.0 diesel · 146 hp · 1839 kg · 2920 mm wheelbase · 5.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2012 | 2.0 diesel · 143 hp · 1835 kg · 2916 mm wheelbase · 5.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2011 | 2.0 diesel · 146 hp · 1823 kg · 2908 mm wheelbase · 5.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2010 | 2.0 diesel · 1802 kg · 2898 mm wheelbase · 5.9 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/00148/20
A condenser of the airbag control unit might have an insufficient thermal treatment. Consequently, the condenser might fail which could lead the airbag control unit to detect a non occurring frontal collision and trigger the airbags and seatbealt tensioners, increasing the risk of an accident.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01630/24
The propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time. If the airbags deploy, it could result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0272/16
There is the possibility that the gas generator casing could be damaged when the side airbag is deployed. If small metal particles come away from the casing when the side airbag is deployed, they could harm the driver or the passenger.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/02776/24
The propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time. If the airbags deploy, it could result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0300/18
The passenger airbag module may have been produced with an inadequate welded connection between the detonator and generator. In the event of an accident, the airbag may not deploy correctly, reducing the protection of the passenger.
Recall of the product from end users