Used car guide

2016 SEAT Alhambra: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 SEAT Alhambras, from 4,112 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,112MOT tests in 2025
77%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
11,000typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 SEAT Alhambras than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints3.3× usual
    SEAT Alhambra
    20.2% All 2016 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 1.1% of all 2016 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 arm5.4× usual
    SEAT Alhambra
    3.8% All 2016 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2016 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.

  • Number plates1.9× usual
    SEAT Alhambra
    4% All 2016 cars
    2.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.3% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

By area

The share of 2016 SEAT Alhambra MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    32% 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.

  • Suspension
    30% 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
    20% 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
    8% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    5% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    5% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2020812Tyres 31%
20192,553Tyres 30%
20182,513Tyres 30%
20175,926Tyres 31%
20152,118Tyres 37%
20141,798Suspension 41%
20131,495Suspension 47%
20121,341Suspension 52%
20111,149Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 SEAT Alhambras registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score