SEAT Alhambra 7N 2.0 TDI, 140 PS, 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive (2011–2015)

Research for this car

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

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

• Engine guide VW 1.6 and 2.0 TDI (EA189) diesel engines: problems, costs and what to check

  Recall work, EGR and DPF faults and injector repairs are common. Buy with recall proof, a belt invoice and a clean fault memory.

Known issues for this car

Before you buy this car

From the generation guide

1. 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.
2. Listen for rattles over bumps, and check the drop links and wishbone bushes for play.
3. On a start-stop car, watch for slow cranking. Ask for the battery age.
4. Check the brake discs for a poor contact pattern and the pads for wear.
5. Look inside the front A-pillars for water marks, especially on a panoramic roof car.
6. Check the bottom edges of the tailgate and the lower door edges for rust.
7. Ask a SEAT dealer to check the VIN for open recall work on the airbag, the emissions software and the starter switch.
8. Check that the air conditioning blows cold air on the lowest setting.

From the engine guide

1. Recall paperwork (no scanner). Ask the dealer for a record of the software update, and of the flow straightener on a 1.6. Bad: no record.
2. Fault memory (needs a scanner). Bad: EGR codes P0401 or P0402, turbo codes P2563 or P2564, or DPF codes such as P2002.
3. Test drive. Bad: judder, lost power or limp mode.
4. Injectors (no scanner). Ask whether the injectors were replaced or revised. Bad: rough running with no injector work on record.
5. Swirl flaps (needs a scanner). Bad: limp mode on a 2.0 TDI.
6. DPF (no scanner). Ask how the car was driven and whether the filter was cleaned. Bad: a DPF warning lamp, or short trips only.
7. Coolant (engine cold). Check the level and look for an exhaust smell in the cabin. Bad: any coolant loss. The EGR cooler is a common cause.
8. Timing belt invoice. Bad: no dated invoice for the belt, tensioner and water pump, or past 210,000 km or 5 years with no change.
9. Turbo (needs a scanner). On a 2.0 TDI past about 150,000 km. Bad: boost codes or oil leaks at the turbo.
10. Flywheel (manual only). Drive in 2nd gear at about 1,400 rpm. Bad: a rattle.

Running costs

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

ADAC versions