Compare SEAT ticking or rattling noise repair quotes from specialist garages

SEAT was founded in 1950, back when there were only three vehicles for every 1000 people in Spain. A partnership with Fiat brought the company up to speed with the latest car manufacturing techniques, lasting until 1982 when it was sold to the Volkswagen Group.

SEAT has recently won numerous awards; the SEAT Leon was named Best Family Car at the WhatCar? Car of the Year Awards in 2022, and the Terraco won Best Large SUV the year before. SEAT also has approval from the Vatican - in 1982, it created the Popemobile, which Pope John Paul II used on his visit to Spain.

See how SEAT's maintenance costs compare to Skoda, Volkswagen and Audi in this guide.

Ticking and rattling are two closely related noises you might hear from your car. If you listen closely to where the sound is coming from and when it happens (while accelerating, for instance), you might be able to work out the cause.

The first thing to check is whether the engine oil is low, requiring a top-up - this is the best-case scenario. If your car is rattling and the sound is coming from the engine, it could be caused by a loose serpentine belt or timing chain. From the car's rear, it might be a loose exhaust or a broken catalytic converter, and the other possibility is worn suspension, which can cause rattling from the front or rear of the vehicle.

Possible explanations for ticking include worn spark plugs, knocking engine rods, dirty valve lifters and misaligned valves. You can learn more about these issues here.

Ticking and rattling noises should be taken seriously as they sometimes indicate a problem with the engine that could cause further damage if ignored.