Seat Alhambra (1998)

3,110 real MOT outcomes analysed • 66.4% first-time pass rate

1998 Seat Alhambra

CarHunch analysed 3,110 real MOT records for the 1998 Seat Alhambra. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 13.6% below UK average
66.4%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
134,258
typical mileage
113,684–157,341 middle half
24.8%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
3.97
avg MOT failures per car
over 11.3 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1998 Seat Alhambra

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 24.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Seat Alhambra

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (68%) 2,130 66.4% 3.99
Petrol (31%) 975 66.4% 3.9
LPG (0%) 4 71% 5.5
Electric (0%) 1 50% 4

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Seat Alhambra vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

113,684
low mileage
134,258
typical
157,341
high mileage

Half of all 1998 Seat Alhambra vehicles fall between 113,684 and 157,341 miles.

1998 Seat Alhambra — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 69 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (7% of peak).

979 69 2014 2021

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.

MOT History Averages

11.3
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
3.97
Avg failures per vehicle
18.6
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1998 Seat Alhambra

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 69.2%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 67.9%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 62.8%
    Nearside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment
  • 61.5%
    Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 61.1%
    Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated
  • 60.7%
    Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 59.9%
    Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated
  • 58.4%
    Offside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Seat Alhambra?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Seat Alhambra:

1996 1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020