2001 Seat Alhambra SE from UK and Ireland - Comments

Turbo packed up.

Heated seats melted cushioning.

Buttons fell off.

Heater packed up.

Cooling system packed up.

Leaks.

Door mirrors faulty.

Windows faulty.

Rear heater box packed up.

Brake problems.

Cruise control broke down.

Computer changed over to left hand drive.

Many electrical problems.

Alarm problems.

Starting problems.

I have a Seat Alhambra with less than 20 000 miles. The story so far. Engine has jumped the timing and required substantial work. Battery has packed in. The driver's door electric window packed in requiring the replacement of the full mechanism. The Air Conditioning has now also packed in. I thought I was buying a quality people carrier which would last my wife a good ten years as she is a low mileage user. Best of all, Seat Ireland did not have the courtesy to respond to me email complaining about the timing problem and my loss in confidence in the engine after the repair.

Seanmcivor@supanet.com.

My seat alhambra has also had many electrical problems. These include the key fob not working, the battery needing to be replaced, and now the alarm goes off if someone breathes on the car, but not when someone prised the badge off the rear of the car. Dash clocks have also played up as do the interior lights and the heated seats do not work.

Apart from that it's a great car. ha ha.

Similar Problems. New Alternator, Air-Con packed in, Drivers Window Mechanism failed, Dashboard lights blown, Interior clock display faulty, knocking from under car,... I too thought I was purchasing a reliable car to carry the kids around in!!

Can anyone enlighten me as to why the passenger's foot-well

on a Seat Alhambra 2000 model fills up with water when it rains. I have tried to find where this could be entering, but to no avail.

Easy answer, poor quality car and even poor quality dealers in lancashire.

Regarding problems with seat alhambra footwell filling with water this is almost certainly due to pipe to rear washer detaching due to use in frosty conditions - do not use if frozen. both alhambras owned by me same thing, remove trim on left of footwell re-attach and s/glue in position. having said this, bought two alhambras in 2003, and have just replaced with another two. yes trim flimsy, usual probs with heaters air con etc. - but better than most...

I am going to buy either a Seat Alhambra, Hyundai Trajet or a Ford Galaxy. Someone please help me decide...

After reading the different comments about these, I don't know what to pick? Was it just bad luck for some getting a bogey car or what? I have 3 kids and 2 dogs, so deffo need a 7 seater. Someone please help. I am looking at 2001 and 2002s.

Sinead Dublin.

We have owned a SEAT Alhambra 1.9tdi for the past few years, and have been plagued with a recurring problem with what appears to be leaking turbo, and a faulty computer to gearbox transmission.

We have had to have the driver's side window mechanism completely changed.

We purchased the vehicle brand new from a dealer at that time - however the dealership has been sold, and new owner has given up the SEAT backing.

There is no one here to service or trouble shoot our vehicle locally, and we have been told by SEAT that we are to take it to the nearest Island that has one.

Is that acceptable?

I have made a vinyl sticker stating not to ever buy SEAT because they are not good vehicles. And I plan on driving around the entire island with this, and park it up on the side of the road where it can be seen!

Passenger footwell fills with water because the grate under the bonnet fills with leaves and water overflows into car. You have to clear this every 6 months. We replaced our box under seat (about £200) when it first did it and then it did it again a week later. We were then told about this common prob and you have to undo a coat hanger and push it down the sied under the bonnet to clear it out. We then took the box out from under the seat and dried it out ourselves, sprayed with WD40 and put it back. Worked OK for another few years.

I have a Seat Alhambra 1.9 TDI 1996 and in the morning when t is cold it struggles to start up I have put new glow plugs new battery new starter motor and the problem is still there and still struggles to start.

We have a V Registered SEAT Alhambra 1.9 TDi, apart from needing new batteries every 3 years, and new rear tyres at 18,000 miles... please take your seats for a good ride!

We have a much loved Alhambra, 1999 2.0 petrol. It has taken us all over Europe in comfort and has for the first time broken down due to a worn distributor. It now has 227543 miles on, yes that is the correct mileage 227543.

I insist on synthetic oil and when the cam belt is changed every 60k I also have the tensioner changed, gear box oil changed and new plug leads, distributor cap and rotor arm at 100k. This I think is fare less expensive than waiting for then to give up on a wet night with the family in the car.

Drive your car as though you care and it will last. We have no plans to change, but are thinking about having the engine and gear box rebuilt, also the clutch is original. And finally I only use genuine parts although the work is done by my local garage which is more of an old shed.

G.

Brackley, Northants.

I bought a SEAT ALHAMBRA 1.9 TDI SE on a 53 plate. Bought it brand new and 45,000 miles later she is going like a dream. The only problem being that it eats rear tyres; they last 8-12k and they are gone. Also the rear anti roll bar bushes wear out in 2 yrs and you get a nasty knocking sound.

We bought a 2004 1900TDI sx, one year old from white dove Seat, cardiff in July 2005. Great looking car, happy with the interior, apart from it showing up the mess our kids can make, controls, radio, and air-con generally fine.

Within a month we had to take the car into FRF Seat swansea for a 'clunking noise' in the footwell area which was remedied. We had it serviced in Jan '06 (FRF), then it was in in March for a blowplug to be replaced due to us complaining about excessive smelly black smoke on starting the vehicle. Then no problems 'till August when there was a recall for the twin mass flywheel to be replaced. Then in sept we had noise and vibration - the ns? driveshaft was replaced, we had the car back, sometime after we had the same 'symptoms' and returned it to have both driveshafts replaced (Oct '06).

All these problems left us a little concerned as to what was to happen when the warranty expired (march '07). We raised our concerns with FRF, white dove and seat UK (a number of times). I found all less than helpfull and especially seat uk, who reminded us that as long as they were repairing the car under warranty they were fufilling thier legal obligation. They were by no means going to consider the complimentary extended warranty that I was pushing for, but did, during one phone call say that I may recieve some accessories as compensation (I did explain that I would much prefer piece of mind or a car that works rather than extras).

Anyway at present we have a gearbox mounting that needs replacing and the nearside cv boot is either damaged as the result of a prang or worn (we have conflicting info re: this).

So I recomend try VW or maybe the new styless/expensive galaxy, or possibly go for a 50K miles worn in approved car where hopefully all the problems have been remedied. We like the car physically, but hate it mechanically.

PS anyone had any recurring driveshaft issues/gearbox mounting problems/excessive smoking on start up???

I have a Alhambra 1.9 TDIs 2001 replaced; rear shocks/coil springs, anti roll bar linkages, battery, air con pipe, all 4 brake discs, all between 41k & 70k.

Gets serviced every year & tyres at 20k (move front to back @ 10k).

Passenger foot well filled up with screen wash fluid, sorted x3 by local seat dealer when car 5 years old.

Informed Seat UK about fault (joint on pipe in foot well, advised design mod. to place joint outside car).

Seat UK very helpful, took their advice & no problems since.

Great secondhand car, 800 miles/tank, £185 comprehensive insurance, best vehicle I've ever had, & that includes 2 brand new cars.