2017 SEAT Alhambra MOT pass rate: 84.2% (17,763 tests)
Is the 2017 Alhambra getting worse?
Pass rate of 2017-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 85.8% +0.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 83.6% -0.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 83.2% +0.8 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2017 Alhambra
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2,147 | 39.6% |
| 2 | Suspension | 1,322 | 24.4% |
| 3 | Brakes | 704 | 13.0% |
| 4 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 438 | 8.1% |
| 5 | Visibility | 251 | 4.6% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 200 | 3.7% |
All Alhambra years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 3,600 | 70.1% | +1.0 pts | 121,392 |
| 2012 | 4,170 | 70.3% | -0.9 pts | 113,216 |
| 2013 | 4,593 | 72.7% | -0.7 pts | 100,272 |
| 2014 | 5,507 | 75.8% | -0.1 pts | 99,101 |
| 2015 | 6,448 | 78.6% | -0.2 pts | 95,206 |
| 2016 | 12,436 | 82.2% | +0.8 pts | 87,252 |
| 2017 (this page) | 17,763 | 84.2% | +0.2 pts | 71,343 |
| 2018 | 7,484 | 86.3% | -0.1 pts | 57,254 |
| 2019 | 7,856 | 87.1% | -1.3 pts | 44,514 |
| 2020 | 2,445 | 88.1% | -1.8 pts | 33,253 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: SEAT Alhambra years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2017 SEAT Alhambra reliable?
2017-registered examples passed 84.2% of their MOT tests (17,763 tests, 2023–2025), +0.2 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 9 years old with a median 71,343 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2017 Alhambra?
The median tested example shows 71,343 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.