Carsieve

SEAT Alhambra II (2010-2022): known problems and buying guide

Built
2010–2015
Median price
€9,250
Listings
518
Running cost per month
€469–€501
Power
140–177 PS (103–130 kW)
Reliability
2/5
DIY
2/5

Below average for its age; check the DSG gearbox, the sliding doors and the suspension before buying.

All versions

VariantRunning cost per monthMedian priceListingsFuelEngine codesGearboxProduction years
2.0 TDI, 140 PS, 6-speed manual Research€469€8,900191Diesel CFFManual (6)2010–2015
2.0 TDI, 140 PS, 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive Research€490€8,900191Diesel CFFManual (6)2011–2015
2.0 TDI, 140 PS, 6-speed dual-clutch Research€481€9,299100Diesel CFFAutomatic (dual-clutch) (6)2010–2015
2.0 TDI, 177 PS, 6-speed dual-clutch Research€501€11,30063Diesel DLUAutomatic (dual-clutch) (6)2012–2015

At a glance

  • Built: 2010 to 2022. The 7N facelift starts in 2015. The Sharan II is the same car from the same plant, so its faults are noted as "on the Sharan twin".
  • Main faults: DSG gearbox faults, electric sliding doors, suspension wear, starter problems and rust on the tailgate and door seams.
  • Reliability: 2/5. TÜV data shows suspension faults rising from four to five years old, and the DSG and sliding door repairs are costly.
  • DIY: 2/5. The suspension, DSG and sliding door work needs a workshop. The buyer checks in this guide need no tools.
  • Prefer: a car with a full service book, DSG service records and proof of recall work.
  • Avoid: a DSG car with no service record, and sliding doors that fail the open and close test.

Engines and gearboxes

  • 1.4 TSI (DJK): 150 PS petrol. No fault confirmed in the sources read.
  • 2.0 TSI (CCZ, DED): CCZ at 200 PS from 2010 to 2015, DED at 220 PS from 2015. Oil use and a stretched timing chain are in the table. See the 2.0 TSI EA888 guide.
  • 2.0 TDI EA189 (CFF, CFG): 140 and 170 PS diesels, 2010 to 2015. The emissions software update is in the Recalls table. See the 2.0 TDI EA189 guide.
  • 2.0 TDI EA288 (DFM, DLT, DLU): 150 to 184 PS diesels from 2015. No fault confirmed in the sources read. See the 2.0 TDI EA288 guide.
  • 6-speed manual: no fault confirmed in the sources read.
  • 6-speed DSG (DQ250): rough shifts and costly mechatronic or clutch faults. See DSG gearbox faults.
  • 7-speed DSG (DQ500): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
  • 4Drive (Haldex, all-wheel drive): no fault confirmed by a non-owner source.

Known issues

Issue Affects Typical km Repair cost
DSG gearbox faults 6-speed DSG (DQ250) Not stated Over 5,000 EUR for a replacement (Germany, year not stated)
Sliding door motors and control unit Electric rear sliding doors Not stated No confirmed price
Suspension wear Wishbone bushes, drop links, springs From 4 to 5 years old No confirmed price
Starter battery and starter motor Start-stop cars and starters Not stated 819 EUR starter with labour (Germany, year not stated)
Oil use and timing chain (2.0 TSI) CCZ and DED petrol Not stated No confirmed price
Panoramic roof leaks Panoramic roof cars Not stated No confirmed price
Rust on tailgate and door seams All years Not stated No confirmed price
Brake discs and pads All years Not stated 679 EUR front discs and pads with labour (Germany, year not stated)

Before you buy

  1. Test for rough shifts and jerky starts, and ask for the DSG service records. A replacement is quoted at over 5,000 EUR.
  2. Open and close each sliding door with the switch and the key. Watch for a door that slides shut and back open, and listen for the motor.
  3. Check the oil level after a drive and ask for the oil top-up history. Listen for chain rattle on a cold start.
  4. Listen for rattles over bumps, and check the drop links and wishbone bushes for play.
  5. On a start-stop car, watch for slow cranking. Ask for the battery age.
  6. Check the brake discs for a poor contact pattern and the pads for wear.
  7. Look inside the front A-pillars for water marks, especially on a panoramic roof car.
  8. Check the bottom edges of the tailgate and the lower door edges for rust.
  9. Ask a SEAT dealer to check the VIN for open recall work on the airbag, the emissions software and the starter switch.
  10. Check that the air conditioning blows cold air on the lowest setting.

Running costs

Operational€198
Workshop€116
Fixed costs (tax, insurance)€170
Total per month€484
New-car depreciation (not included)€68

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

Market

Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.

Find offers on mobile.de

Listings
518
25th percentile
€7,399
Median price
€9,250
75th percentile
€11,550
Median mileage
200,450 km
Median first registration
2013
Dealer share
46.5%
Price at 100,000 km
€13,760

To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.

In detail

DSG gearbox faults

Rough shifts and rough starts from rest are named by AUTO BILD, carwiki, Auto Express and RAC. Carbuyer says a bad fault can cost thousands. Carwiki describes the DQ250 (6-speed wet DSG) with mechatronic failure and burnt clutch packs, and says the car can stop. It puts a full DQ250 replacement above 5,000 EUR including fitting, in Germany, with no year. A Russian owner logbook on a Passat Alltrack with the same DQ250 shows a pressure fault and a solenoid fault, but it is one owner and another car.

Sources: AUTO BILD: Alhambra used car test, carwiki: Alhambra problems, carwiki: DSG problems, Auto Express: used Alhambra review, RAC: Alhambra 2010-2020 review, Carbuyer: used Alhambra buying guide

Sliding door motors and control unit

Carwiki says the sliding door motors fail on the Sharan twin. AUTO BILD says the sliding door and tailgate drives fail, mostly from sensor problems. AUTO BILD TÜV names failed sliding door motors on the Sharan twin as an expensive fault, with no figure. RAC names the rear sliding doors as a test-drive check, and calls the Sharan's electric doors "particularly glitchy". A 2011 workshop service action re-adjusted sliding doors on 1,821 Alhambras and on Sharans built 17 to 31 December 2010. It is not a recall.

Sources: AUTO BILD: Alhambra used car test, carwiki: Sharan II problems, AUTO BILD TÜV: Sharan II, AUTO BILD: Sharan and Alhambra sliding door service action, RAC: Sharan 2015-2021 review, RAC: Alhambra 2010-2020 review

Suspension wear

TÜV data in AUTO BILD shows axle suspension faults rising clearly from four to five years old, with damaged rubber bearings named. Carwiki names worn wishbones and drop links, and spring breaks, on the Sharan twin. Auto Express says rattles over bumps are probably the drop links, which are easy to replace. Carbuyer says a worn drop link causes the rattle and calls the fix relatively cheap. No non-dealer source gives a price.

Sources: carwiki: Sharan II problems, AUTO BILD TÜV: Sharan II, AUTO BILD: Alhambra used car test, Auto Express: used Alhambra review, Carbuyer: used Alhambra buying guide

Starter battery and starter motor

ADAC's breakdown statistic lists the starter battery for Alhambras registered from 2016 to 2019. Carwiki says start-stop fails more often, often because of a weak starter battery. AUTO BILD gives a starter motor price of 819 EUR with labour, in Germany, with no year.

Sources: ADAC: Alhambra breakdown statistics, carwiki: Alhambra problems, AUTO BILD: Alhambra used car test

Oil use and timing chain (2.0 TSI)

AUTO BILD says the 2.0 TSI tends to use oil and to stretch its timing chains, and calls it oil-sensitive. Carwiki names timing chain stretch on TSI petrols on the Sharan twin. The sources give no build years and no price for this fault.

Sources: AUTO BILD: Alhambra used car test, carwiki: Sharan II problems

Panoramic roof leaks

Auto Express says panoramic roof cars show signs of water leaks at the base of each A-pillar, and that a distorted drain mechanism can be costly to fix. Carbuyer says roof leaks on the panoramic sunroof are not unknown, and tells buyers to check inside the front pillars. No price is given.

Sources: Auto Express: used Alhambra review, Carbuyer: used Alhambra buying guide

Rust on tailgate and door seams

Carwiki names rust at the tailgate and the bottom edges of the doors, and light rust on the crash box and axle carrier. On the Sharan twin, it blames double door seals. AUTO BILD says the rust protection is not optimal in detail, and notes a twelve-year factory warranty against perforation.

Sources: carwiki: Alhambra problems, AUTO BILD: Alhambra used car test, carwiki: Sharan II problems

Brake discs and pads

Carwiki says the brake discs wear, partly because of the car's weight. AUTO BILD TÜV says the discs more often show a poor contact pattern. AUTO BILD gives 679 EUR for front discs and pads with labour, in Germany, with no year.

Sources: carwiki: Alhambra problems, AUTO BILD TÜV: Alhambra 2026, AUTO BILD: Alhambra used car test

Recalls

Country Code Years What is done
Austria None given Model year 2017 Passenger airbag: the gas generator weld can fail, so the airbag may not fill. The airbag is replaced. Reported by ÖAMTC (Sharan twin) and carwiki.
Germany None given EA189 Euro 5 2.0 TDI, built 2011 to 2015 Emissions software update. Reported by carwiki and echo24.
Not stated None given Not stated Starter solenoid switch with a fire risk. Reported by carwiki and AUTO BILD (Sharan twin).

The side airbag reports differ and carry no code, so they are not merged into this table. No official recall page was read, so check the VIN with a dealer.

Maintenance

  • Cambelt every five years or 60,000 miles (about 96,000 km), per Auto Express and Carbuyer (UK, 2016).
  • Keep the DSG service records. AUTO BILD says a DSG must be serviced, and the sources give no interval for the Alhambra.
  • After any suspension work, have the wheel alignment checked (carwiki, Sharan twin).

Sources

English

German

Russian