2013 SEAT Alhambra 2.0L Diesel · LD13 VRG

A persistent and unresolved engine management fault dominates the MOT history of this 2013 SEAT Alhambra, with the engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) flagged as inoperative or indicating a malfunction on four consecutive occasions at the 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 tests, three of which resulted in immediate failures. This is not a transient or intermittent warning; it is a chronic defect that has either never been properly rectified or has recurred after attempted repairs, and on each occasion it has been accompanied by tyre pressure monitoring system warnings or visibly under-inflated tyres. The most recent test on 14 May 2026 initially failed on this same MIL defect along with a dangerous offside rear tyre with ply or cords exposed, before the vehicle was presented again the same day and passed with advisories for a nearside rear tyre worn close to the legal limit, rear brake pads wearing thin, pitted or scored nearside and offside rear brake discs, and a worn nearside front suspension arm rear bush. The underlying mechanical story is therefore one of a recurring emissions or engine management issue that a prospective buyer must investigate thoroughly, rather than a vehicle with a stable roadworthiness record. Recorded mileage of 97,086 miles over approximately thirteen years equates to an annual accumulation of around 7,468 miles, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of this age and class. There are no significant gaps in the annual testing record and no sudden unexplained jumps in mileage between tests, suggesting consistent usage rather than prolonged periods off the road or sporadic long-distance driving. For a diesel-powered MPV of this vintage and mileage, this usage pattern would normally be expected to produce wear on the usual consumables such as tyres, brake pads and discs, suspension bushes, and drivetrain mounts, all of which are consistent with the components repeatedly flagged across the MOT history. The mileage itself is not a concern, but it does mean that items such as the dual-mass flywheel, turbocharger, injectors, EGR system, and diesel particulate filter should be considered for their service-life position at this point. The most pressing area for a buyer to scrutinise is the recurring engine MIL fault, as the fact that it has appeared on four successive tests strongly suggests a fault that has either not been properly diagnosed, has been temporarily cleared without a lasting repair, or represents an ongoing emissions or sensor issue such as a faulty lambda sensor, EGR valve, DPF blockage, or a wiring fault affecting the MIL circuit itself. A pre-purchase diagnostic scan reading live data and stored fault codes is essential, and any history of recent DPF cleaning, EGR removal, or emissions-related component replacement should be requested and verified. Equally, the offside rear tyre that failed on a dangerous defect in May 2026 indicates that tyre condition should not be taken at face value even on a vehicle that has just passed; check the remaining tread depth across all four corners, inspect the sidewalls for cracking or bulging, and confirm that the tyres are of matching size and specification. The suspension and brake advisories also warrant close attention on a test drive, as the nearside front suspension arm rear bush flagged in 2026 follows two years of advisories on both nearside and offside front suspension arm pins or bushes in 2023, 2024, and 2025, suggesting progressive wear in the front suspension linkages. Listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end, particularly over speed bumps, uneven road surfaces, and when turning at low speed, and feel for any vagueness or knocking through the steering wheel. The rear brake discs and pads flagged as worn in the latest test should be inspected for pad material thickness, disc lip depth, and any binding or uneven operation of the rear calipers, with the vehicle rolling freely when jacked and the handbrake holding firmly without excessive travel. Finally, given the chronic tyre pressure monitoring warnings observed across multiple tests, the TPMS sensors themselves should be confirmed as functional rather than simply having been masked by recent inflation.