Diesel SEAT Altea: MOT pass rate

67.4% of diesel SEAT Alteas pass the MOT first time, measured across 10,949 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 112,430.

Diesel against the other SEAT Altea versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the SEAT Altea specifically, diesel is the strongest at 67.4%, and this diesel version sits 1.1 points above the 66.3% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel SEAT Altea is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel SEAT Altea had covered 112,430 miles at test, against 99,850 for the petrol. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the SEAT Altea page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel SEAT Altea

1. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 7.2% of tests (3.89x the national rate for this defect)
2. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.9% of tests (3.78x the national rate for this defect)
3. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4.8% of tests (3.12x the national rate for this defect)
4. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 6.8% of tests (3x the national rate for this defect)
5. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.9% of tests (3x the national rate for this defect)
6. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 5.7% of tests (2.41x the national rate for this defect)
7. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 3.1% of tests (2.34x the national rate for this defect)
8. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.8% of tests (2.28x the national rate for this defect)
9. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.8% of tests (2.07x the national rate for this defect)
10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.4% of tests (1.42x the national rate for this defect)

From 11,007 DVSA-tracked diesel SEAT Altea tests, 2024, split out from the SEAT Altea's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4.71% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel SEAT Altea

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 8% of tests (3.99x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 18.1% of tests (3.5x the national rate for this defect)
3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 10.4% of tests (2.66x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 2.6% of tests (2.33x the national rate for this defect)
5. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 6.5% of tests (2.3x the national rate for this defect)
6. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 9.7% of tests (2.04x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.7% of tests (1.77x the national rate for this defect)
8. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 20.1% of tests (1.64x the national rate for this defect)
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 40.3% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 16.8% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this defect)

From 11,007 DVSA-tracked diesel SEAT Altea tests, 2024.

Other SEAT Altea fuel types

• Petrol SEAT Altea - 61.1%

All SEAT Altea MOT data · Every model