Used car guide

2013 SEAT Altea: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2013 SEAT Alteas, from 1,151 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,151MOT tests in 2025
64%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%)
7,700typical miles a year
5.2×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2013 SEAT Alteas than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Suspension arm5.2× usual
    SEAT Altea
    10.4% All 2013 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.1% of all 2013 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.

  • Shock absorbers2.1× usual
    SEAT Altea
    12.4% All 2013 cars
    6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.3% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Headlight aim2.2× usual
    SEAT Altea
    8.1% All 2013 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.1%, against 3.7% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

  • Link ball joint covers2.9× usual
    SEAT Altea
    5.8% All 2013 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 1.1% of all 2013 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.

  • Headlights2× usual
    SEAT Altea
    7.5% All 2013 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 2.6% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 3.4% here, against 8.7% of all 2013 cars. Engine oil leaks: 2.2% here, against 5.8% of all 2013 cars.

By area

The share of 2013 SEAT Altea MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    40% 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
    36% 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
    32% 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
    30% 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
    8% 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
    6% 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%
20121,390Suspension 44%
20111,125Suspension 45%
20101,071Suspension 49%
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 2013 SEAT Alteas registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score