Used car guide

2010 SEAT Alhambra: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 SEAT Alhambras, from 310 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 310 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

310MOT tests in 2025
58%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)
9,100typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 SEAT Alhambras than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2× usual
    SEAT Alhambra
    22.3% All 2010 cars
    11%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.5%, against 2.2% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Suspension arm2.7× usual
    SEAT Alhambra
    11% All 2010 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.5% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

By area

The share of 2010 SEAT Alhambra MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    56% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    34% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    33% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    29% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    12% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a SEAT Alhambra?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2020812Tyres 31%
20192,553Tyres 30%
20182,513Tyres 30%
20175,926Tyres 31%
20164,112Tyres 32%
20152,118Suspension 37%
20141,798Suspension 41%
20131,495Suspension 47%
20121,341Suspension 52%
20111,149Suspension 53%
2009281Suspension 65%
2008361Suspension 64%
2007309Suspension 70%
2006237Suspension 65%
2005196Suspension 70%
2004238Suspension 66%
2003134Suspension 66%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2010 SEAT Alhambras registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score