Used car guide

2004 SEAT Altea: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 SEAT Alteas, from 163 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 163 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

163MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
5,800typical miles a year
3.1×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 SEAT Alteas than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints3.1× usual
    SEAT Altea
    20.9% All 2004 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8%, against 2.9% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

By area

The share of 2004 SEAT Altea MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    48% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    43% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    42% 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
    41% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    22% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    17% 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
2015444Suspension 40%
2014691Suspension 37%
20131,151Suspension 40%
20121,390Suspension 44%
20111,125Suspension 45%
20101,071Suspension 49%
20091,196Suspension 52%
20081,290Suspension 52%
20071,444Suspension 54%
2006829Suspension 52%
2005416Suspension 55%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 SEAT Alteas registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score