Used car guide

2012 SEAT Alhambra: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 SEAT Alhambras, from 1,341 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,341MOT tests in 2025

66%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)

9,200typical miles a year

2.8×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 SEAT Alhambras than on all cars registered in 2012.

Suspension arm bushes and joints2.8× usual

SEAT Alhambra
27.9% All 2012 cars
10.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 6.2%, against 2% of all 2012 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 arm5.5× usual

SEAT Alhambra
14.2% All 2012 cars
2.6%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.2% of all 2012 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.
Link ball joint covers2.9× usual

SEAT Alhambra
7.3% All 2012 cars
2.5%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 1.4% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.
Engine warning light2.8× usual

SEAT Alhambra
5% All 2012 cars
1.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 1.8% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
Side repeaters3.6× usual

SEAT Alhambra
4.3% All 2012 cars
1.2%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 0.8% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

Better than most

Number plate lights: 2.7% here, against 7.3% of all 2012 cars. Exhaust system: 1.6% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 SEAT Alhambra MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

52% 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.
Tyres

39% 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.
Brakes

24% 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.
Lights and electrics

18% 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

9% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

5% of testsRough price £80–£250

At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a SEAT Alhambra?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2020	812	Tyres 31%
2019	2,553	Tyres 30%
2018	2,513	Tyres 30%
2017	5,926	Tyres 31%
2016	4,112	Tyres 32%
2015	2,118	Tyres 37%
2014	1,798	Suspension 41%
2013	1,495	Suspension 47%
2011	1,149	Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 SEAT Alhambras registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score