Used car guide

2008 SEAT Altea: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 SEAT Alteas, from 1,290 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,290MOT tests in 2025
55%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
7,200typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 SEAT Alteas than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.7× usual
    SEAT Altea
    19.7% All 2008 cars
    7.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.8%, against 3.2% of all 2008 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.

  • Braking performance1.8× usual
    SEAT Altea
    11.5% All 2008 cars
    6.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 2.5% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Diesel smoke emissions4.6× usual
    SEAT Altea
    2.3% All 2008 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 0.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Seat belts2.2× usual
    SEAT Altea
    3.7% All 2008 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.6% of all 2008 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.

  • Airbag warning light2.8× usual
    SEAT Altea
    2.8% All 2008 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 0.9% of all 2008 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 2% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 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.

  • 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
    36% 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
    36% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    20% of testsRough price £60–£350

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    19% 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.

Looking at a SEAT Altea?

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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%
20071,444Suspension 54%
2006829Suspension 52%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 SEAT Alteas registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score