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Common problems by part

SEAT Altea steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 8,332 MOT tests · Updated

At 15 years, 1.5 in 100 MOT tests of the SEAT Altea failed on steering, against 3.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 8,332 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 127 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 12 ages from 8 to 19 years, 62,006 MOT tests
  • MOT tests at 15 years: 8,332 for the SEAT Altea

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

1.5 fails per 100 MOT tests at 15 years, against 3.3 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 15 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

SEAT Altea steering fails by age

SEAT Altea steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the SEAT Altea. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.0248 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 1,283 MOT tests89 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 2,837 MOT tests910 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 4,553 MOT tests1011 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 5,471 MOT tests1112 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 6,031 MOT tests1213 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 6,430 MOT tests1314 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 7,106 MOT tests1415 years: 1.5 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 8,332 MOT tests1516 years: 2.1 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 7,939 MOT tests1617 years: 2.5 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 6,231 MOT tests1718 years: 3.2 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 4,030 MOT tests1819 years: 3.0 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 1,763 MOT tests19
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. SEAT Altea All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
81,2830.11.2
92,8370.21.8
104,5530.32.1
115,4710.42.5
126,0310.42.8
136,4300.72.9
147,1061.03.2
158,3321.53.3
167,9392.13.4
176,2312.53.6
184,0303.23.9
19*1,7633.04.1

All first-use years of the SEAT Altea pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the steering at 15 years

Advisories (not fails)

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Track rod end: ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt.

Check one SEAT Altea, not the average

The figures here describe SEAT Altea cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other SEAT Altea problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the SEAT Altea have more steering problems than other cars?

1.5 in 100 MOT tests at 15 years, against 3.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 8,332 MOT tests).

How common are SEAT Altea steering problems?

1.5 in 100 MOT tests at 15 years failed on steering, against 3.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 8,332 MOT tests).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 62,006 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare