MOT fail rates by first-use year

2006 SEAT Altea MOT fail rate and common faults

How SEAT Altea cars first used in 2006 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2024, against all cars of the same age. From 4,732 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026

At 18 years, tested in 2024

MOT fail rate at age 18 (n=1,166)46.9%

All cars at 18 years (n=3,261,622)43.3%

Difference+3.7 pts

MOT tests of 2006 cars, 2022 to 20244,732

What stands out

In 2024, at 18 years old, SEAT Altea cars first used in 2006 failed 46.9% of MOTs (1,166 tests), 3.7 points above the 43.3% for all cars that age.
From 2022 to 2024, as these cars went from 16 to 18 years old, the fail rate moved from 47.7% to 46.9%.
The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the SEAT Altea at 18 years, is driveshaft CV boot split, at 8.1 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 3.2).

MOT fail rate by test year

SEAT Altea cars first used in 2006: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test year	Age	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars	Difference
2022	16 years	47.7%	2,008	42.6%	+5.1 pts
2023	17 years	48.7%	1,558	43.1%	+5.6 pts
2024	18 years	46.9%	1,166	43.3%	+3.7 pts

Most common faults at 18 years

These figures cover all SEAT Altea MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2004 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,030). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail item	Per 100 MOTs	All cars
Driveshaft CV boot split	8.1	3.2
Coil spring broken	6.3	3.1
Brake light not working Wear	6.3	4.0
Side/position light not working Wear	5.8	5.6
Airbag (SRS) warning light on	5.2	1.3
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear	4.0	4.0
Handbrake too weak	3.5	2.8
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear	3.3	2.9
Engine warning lamp at the petrol emissions check: not working or showing a fault	3.3	2.5
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear	3.1	2.3

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=4,030). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

Advisory	Per 100 MOTs	All cars
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear	22.7	17.4
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened	15.3	11.1
Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated	12.0	4.0
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive	11.4	12.6
Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened	10.5	5.3
Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement	9.8	8.5
Coil spring: corroded	8.7	7.7
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear	8.5	9.8
Shock absorber misting oil	7.4	3.9
Brake pads wearing thin Wear	7.0	6.4

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=4,030). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 18 years

These figures cover all SEAT Altea MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2004 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,030). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Fuel	Share of tests	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars, same fuel	Median mileage
Diesel	70.0%	46.2%	2,820	43.6%	131,664 miles
Petrol	30.0%	49.7%	1,210	43.2%	103,465 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 18 years

These figures cover all SEAT Altea MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2004 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,030). At 18 years, SEAT Altea cars at 120,000 to 150,000 miles failed more often (50.0%, n=1,149) than those at 90,000 to 120,000 miles (47.3%, n=1,181). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at test	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars
90,000 to 120,000 miles	47.3%	1,181	46.3%
120,000 to 150,000 miles	50.0%	1,149	47.5%

Car tax rules for a 2006 car

Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2006 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the SEAT Altea

2007 SEAT Altea

Other SEAT models first used in 2006

Model	Age at test	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars
SEAT Leon (2006)	19 years in 2025	44.1%	2,067	43.2%
SEAT Ibiza (2006)	19 years in 2025	49.7%	2,052	43.2%

More on the SEAT Altea

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2006 SEAT Altea cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.