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MOT results · tests in 2025 · Great Britain

Seat Ibiza reliability: what the MOT shows

187,432 Ibizas had an MOT in 2025. 66.1% passed first time, against 71.8% for other cars of the same age and mileage. Most of the gap comes from cars registered from 2013 to 2018, which fail on suspension 1.6 times as often as comparable cars. Those registered from 2020 onwards pass as often as other cars their age.

66.1%passed first time
−5.7points against cars of the same age and mileage
1.9×as many steering failures as comparable cars
Report card

Seat Ibiza MOT results by registration year

Each dot compares how often Ibizas of that year failed on one area of the test with cars of the same age and mileage.

Much betterBetterAbout the sameWorseMuch worse
YearPassed first timeAgainst same age and mileageMOTsSuspensionSteeringBrakesTyresLights & electricsVisibilityBody & structureEmissions & leaks
200550.9%−7.11,102
200650.0%−7.02,039
200749.0%−8.33,003
200849.1%−7.54,451
200953.1%−4.17,644
201055.5%−3.19,393
201156.8%−4.012,715
201259.1%−3.912,751
201359.1%−6.215,852
201461.4%−7.219,006
201563.3%−8.817,746
201666.5%−8.718,116
201770.8%−7.915,706
201872.3%−9.012,951
201982.5%−1.613,057
202085.8%−0.68,130
202187.5%−0.48,473
202288.2%−1.25,297

Much worse: failed on that area at least 1.5 times as often. Worse: 1.15 to 1.5 times. Better: up to 0.87 times. Much better: two-thirds as often or less. Gaps under half a percentage point count as about the same. Registration year is the year the car was first used.

Seat Ibiza years to avoid, going by the MOT

Well behind2005 to 2008−7.0 to −8.3 ptsMost common failures: stop lamp (not working) in 2005 and 2006; position lamp (not working) in 2007 and 2008. 10,595 MOTs.
Behind2009 to 2012−3.1 to −4.1 ptsMost common failures: coil spring (fractured or broken) in 2009; linkage ball joint dust cover (ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) in 2010; pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) in 2011 and 2012. 42,503 MOTs.
Well behind2013 to 2018−6.2 to −9.0 ptsMost common failures: pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017; track rod end (ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) in 2018. 99,377 MOTs.
Behind2019−1.6 ptsMost common failure: track rod end (ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt). 13,057 MOTs.
Level2020 to 2022−0.4 to −1.2 ptsMost common failures: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm in 2020; condition (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords) in 2021 and 2022. 21,900 MOTs.

Well behind: 5 or more points below cars of the same age and mileage. Behind: 1.5 to 5 points below. Level: within 1.5 points. Ahead: 1.5 or more points above.

What fails

Seat Ibiza common faults at the MOT

3.8% of Ibiza MOTs failed on steering, against 2.0% for cars of the same age and mileage, and 8.4% on brakes, against 6.1%.

Most common failures

Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.1%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.3%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.3%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.3%
Coil spring: fractured or broken2.8%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.7%
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.5%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.9%
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid2.3%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.4%
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.3%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.1%
Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.1%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.4%
Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.0%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.0%
IbizaSame age and mileage

Fails more often than other cars

Pins and bushes: pin or bush likely to become detached6.4×0.40% of Ibiza MOTs (757) against 0.06% for cars of the same age and mileage
Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt5.2×2.10% of Ibiza MOTs (3,945) against 0.40% for cars of the same age and mileage
Hand lever: has insufficient reserve travel5.2×0.62% of Ibiza MOTs (1,170) against 0.12% for cars of the same age and mileage
Lever: has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment4.9×0.93% of Ibiza MOTs (1,743) against 0.19% for cars of the same age and mileage
Track rod end: ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.4×0.47% of Ibiza MOTs (886) against 0.11% for cars of the same age and mileage
Service brake imbalance: across an axle3.4×0.75% of Ibiza MOTs (1,403) against 0.22% for cars of the same age and mileage
Mileage

The gap opens after 30,000 miles

Up to 30,000 miles, Ibizas pass as often as cars of the same age and mileage. Behind from there: 30–60,000 miles 4.7 points, 60–90,000 miles 6.9 points, 90–120,000 miles 7.1 points, 120,000+ miles 6.8 points.

First-time MOT pass rate by mileage: Seat Ibiza against cars of the same age and mileage0%25%50%75%100%8889UNDER 30K−1.2 pts758030–60K−4.7 pts626960–90K−6.9 pts546190–120K−7.1 pts5258120K+−6.8 pts
Ibiza, first-time pass rateCars of the same age and mileage

Petrol, diesel or hybrid Ibiza

Diesels passed 57.5% first time, 3.6 points below comparable cars; petrols passed 66.9%, 5.9 points below comparable cars. Diesels had a median of 109,418 miles at the test, against 65,649 for petrols.

FuelMOTsPassed first timeSame age and mileageGap (pts)Median miles
Petrol171,68766.9%72.8%−5.965,649
Diesel15,74257.5%61.1%−3.6109,418
Against rivals

Ibiza against other small hatchbacks

Cars registered 2014 to 2021, each against cars of the same age and mileage. The Ibiza ranks 12 of 17.

ModelMOTsPassed first timeSame age and mileageGap (pts)
1. Honda Jazz136,22787.4%82.0%+5.4
2. MINI Cooper339,52785.3%80.8%+4.5
3. Toyota Yaris215,96482.4%80.7%+1.6
4. Hyundai i2077,31979.6%78.7%+0.9
5. Mazda 260,28480.6%79.8%+0.9
6. Suzuki Swift77,43880.6%80.1%+0.5
7. Audi A1162,41178.5%78.7%−0.2
8. Skoda Fabia118,92477.9%79.3%−1.3
9. VW Polo329,62176.0%79.1%−3.1
10. Ford Fiesta693,78873.2%78.2%−4.9
11. Citroen C395,14373.8%80.1%−6.2
12. Seat Ibiza113,18571.2%77.6%−6.4
13. Peugeot 208157,34971.7%78.8%−7.1
14. Nissan Micra81,54373.4%81.0%−7.6
15. Vauxhall Corsa477,34870.1%78.7%−8.6
16. Dacia Sandero97,35567.1%79.5%−12.4
17. Renault Clio148,25663.9%78.1%−14.2

Check these before you buy a used Ibiza

What testers most often noted as advisories on Ibizas in 2025: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for cars of the same age and mileage.

Questions about Ibiza reliability

Is the Seat Ibiza reliable?

At the MOT, 66.1% of 187,432 Ibiza MOTs in 2025 passed first time, against 71.8% for cars of the same age and mileage. 2005 to 2008: well behind (−7.0 to −8.3 points). 2009 to 2012: behind (−3.1 to −4.1 points). 2013 to 2018: well behind (−6.2 to −9.0 points). 2019: behind (−1.6 points). 2020 to 2022: level (−0.4 to −1.2 points).

Which Seat Ibiza years should I avoid?

Going by 2025 MOT results, 2005 to 2008 and 2009 to 2012 and 2013 to 2018 and 2019. Those cars passed first time −7.0 to −8.3 and −3.1 to −4.1 and −6.2 to −9.0 and −1.6 points against comparable cars.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Ibiza?

Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn: 4.1% of Ibiza MOTs, against 1.3% for cars of the same age and mileage.

Is a diesel or petrol Ibiza more reliable?

Petrol Ibizas passed 66.9% first time and diesels 57.5%. Against cars of the same age and mileage, petrols were 5.9 points below and diesels 3.6 points below.

Is the Ibiza more reliable than the Ford Fiesta?

For cars registered 2014 to 2021, the Ford Fiesta passed 73.2% first time, −4.9 points against comparable cars. The Ibiza passed 71.2%, −6.4 points.

How we measure

Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025 (31,475,521 first tests on cars first used 2005 to 2022), from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data. Retests are left out.

Passed first time. A car passed if its first test that year ended in a pass. Cars that failed and were fixed within the hour count as fails, as DVSA counts them.

Same age and mileage. We group every car by the year it was first used and its mileage (under 30k, 30–60k, 60–90k, 90–120k, over 120k). The comparison figure is what those groups scored, weighted to match the Ibiza's mix of ages and mileages.

Model. Every car DVSA records as a Seat Ibiza: 28 recorded model names, from "IBIZA" to trims such as "IBIZA FR MPI".

The full method, including how each report-card dot and year group is decided.