Used car guide

2010 SEAT Altea: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 SEAT Alteas, from 1,071 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,071MOT tests in 2025
60%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)
7,300typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 SEAT Alteas than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Suspension arm3.3× usual
    SEAT Altea
    13.4% All 2010 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.5% of all 2010 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.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.8× usual
    SEAT Altea
    10.8% All 2010 cars
    3.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 1.6% of all 2010 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.

  • Braking performance1.9× usual
    SEAT Altea
    11% All 2010 cars
    5.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 2.2% of all 2010 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.

  • Link ball joint covers2.2× usual
    SEAT Altea
    6.1% All 2010 cars
    2.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 1.6% of all 2010 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.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 4.9% here, against 11% of all 2010 cars. Sidelights: 3.2% here, against 6.8% of all 2010 cars.

By area

The share of 2010 SEAT Altea MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    49% 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
    38% 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
    33% 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
    28% 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
    11% 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.

  • 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.

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%
20091,196Suspension 52%
20081,290Suspension 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 2010 SEAT Alteas registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score