Used car guide

2006 SEAT Altea: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 SEAT Alteas, from 829 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

829MOT tests in 2025
55%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
6,400typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 SEAT Alteas than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.4× usual
    SEAT Altea
    18.1% All 2006 cars
    7.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.9%, against 3.4% of all 2006 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.

  • Airbag warning light5.2× usual
    SEAT Altea
    6.8% All 2006 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.5%, against 1.2% of all 2006 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.

  • Seat belts2.3× usual
    SEAT Altea
    3.9% All 2006 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.6% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

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

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 3.4% here, against 14.1% of all 2006 cars. Headlights: 5.4% here, against 14.3% of all 2006 cars.

By area

The share of 2006 SEAT Altea 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.

  • Brakes
    39% 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
    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.

  • Lights and electrics
    32% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    21% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    18% of testsRough price £60–£350

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2014691Suspension 37%
20131,151Suspension 40%
20121,390Suspension 44%
20111,125Suspension 45%
20101,071Suspension 49%
20091,196Suspension 52%
20081,290Suspension 52%
20071,444Suspension 54%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2006 SEAT Alteas registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score