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SEAT Ibiza reliability by build year

Coverage 2002-present3 named generationssuperminiHatchbackDIESEL / PETROL
At a glance

SEAT Ibiza built around 2018: fails its MOT more often than average

SEAT Ibizas built around 2018 fail their MOT more often than similar cars the same age. Look closely at the tyres on any car you view.

Check a SEAT Ibiza by number plate

Key figure

22% of MOT tests on SEAT Ibizas built around 2018 ended in a fail (retests included), against 16% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on SEAT Ibizas built around 2018 involves the tyres.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The SEAT Ibiza's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Shock absorbers

Worth checking

Bounce-test each corner; check for oily streaks down the strut bodies.

Steering track rods

Worth checking

On a flat surface, rock the steering wheel briefly with the engine off and listen for clunks.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

By build year

How build years differ

Fail rates have been steady over the last three years. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your Ibiza's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

Ibiza Mk5 (KJ)

Mk5 (KJ) (2017-present)

Poor
PETROLDIESEL

22.3% fail rate, built around 2018 (7 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

From 18,536 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Ibiza Mk4 (6J)

Mk4 (6J) (2008-2016)

Poor
PETROLDIESEL

25.9% fail rate, built around 2016 (9 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 5 MOTs, 20.8%)

From 23,545 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Ibiza Mk3 (6L)

Mk3 (6L) (2002-2007)

Too close to call between ratings
PETROLDIESEL

34.6% fail rate, built around 2007 (18 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 31.3%)

From 3,778 MOT tests at this ageView details →

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the SEAT Ibiza.

See every build year for the SEAT Ibiza

Side-by-side

SEAT Ibiza generations compared

Each generation is shown at 7 years old if it has at least 100 MOT tests at that age. If not, or if its cars are too new to be 7, it's shown at another age. We try ages close to 7 first. Newer generations have fewer years of data.

GenerationRatingFail rate
Mk5 (KJ) (2017-present)
Poor
Poor22.3%built around 2018 (7 years old)from 18,536 MOT tests at this age
Mk4 (6J) (2008-2016)
Poor
Poor25.9%built around 2016 (9 years old)from 23,545 MOT tests at this age
Mk3 (6L) (2002-2007)
No ratingToo close to call between ratings
No ratingToo close to call between ratings34.6%built around 2007 (18 years old)from 3,778 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the Ibiza, shown at the age printed under its fail rate. So rows can be different ages. Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail, retests included. A rating is given only when there are enough tests to place the fail rate in one rating band with 95% confidence.

By age

SEAT Ibiza fail rate by age

This chart combines every SEAT Ibiza ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
6,96710.5%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
9,93311.7%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
11,56613.2%
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
15,14017.9%
7 yearsbuilt around 2018
18,53622.3%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
22,42224.0%
9 yearsbuilt around 2016
23,54525.9%
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
26,21827.6%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
25,02428.7%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
20,93229.7%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
17,82630.0%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
16,67931.2%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
12,52631.9%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
8,77333.9%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
5,49035.8%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
3,77834.6%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
2,26034.7%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
1,47734.3%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
1,13534.6%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
60734.1%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
20531.7%
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
13526.7%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
26029.2%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 17 years old.

Where it ranks

Where the SEAT Ibiza stacks up

Three ways to compare the same cars, built around 2018 (7 years old). The fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests, and 1st has the lowest fail rate. Only models with at least 500 MOT tests at this age are ranked. How we count fail rates

Against other SEAT models

7th of 7

Among the highest fail rates of the 7 SEAT models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

In the highest third

Against other hatchbacks

70th of 84

70th lowest fail rate of 84 hatchbacks with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

In the highest third

Against the UK average

22.3%

The share of this model's MOT tests at this age that ended in a fail.

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 7-year-old SEAT Ibizas

These issues come from 7-year-old SEAT Ibizas, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelPlenty of data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    20.0%
    Advisory: 5,140Fail: 567 (10% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    12.5%
    Advisory: 3,157Fail: 358 (10% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Shock absorber has a light misting of oil

    9.8%
    Advisory: 1,991Fail: 332 (14% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    9.4%
    Advisory: 2,253Fail: 28 (1% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    8.6%
    Advisory: 1,585Fail: 298 (16% of the times it was found)

Based on 18,536 MOT tests on 7-year-old SEAT Ibizas, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 7-year-old SEAT Ibizas notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelPlenty of data
  1. Suspension + Tyres39%
  2. Brakes + Tyres32%
  3. Brakes + Suspension29%
  4. Other + Tyres13%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 5,890 MOT tests on SEAT Ibiza cars built around 2018 (7 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

92%of this model's cars first registered in 2014 to 2015 were still registered 10 years later

UK average for cars first registered in 2014 to 2015: 92% · The same

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0124).

Recall context

17 recalls in all

16 of the 17 SEAT Ibiza recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 3 Critical
  • 13 more

Top concerns

  • Front driver airbag replacement
  • Starter motor may malfunction and overheat
  • Head airbag may fail to activate under certain collision conditions.

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Like-for-like

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks to compare

  1. 1

    Mini

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    12.3%
    Still registered at 10 years
    95.6%

    Lower fail rate: 12.3%, against 22.3% for the SEAT Ibiza, both built around 2018.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate, share still registered and recalls only.

    50,561 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  2. 2

    Suzuki SX4

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    13.5%

    Lower fail rate: 13.5%, against 22.3% for the SEAT Ibiza, both built around 2018.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    3,314 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  3. 3

    Lexus CT

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    10.5%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.1%
    Dangerous
    4.2%
    Still registered at 10 years
    88.2%

    Lower fail rate: 10.5%, against 22.3% for the SEAT Ibiza, both built around 2018.

    3,255 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  4. 4

    Toyota Prius

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    11.1%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    0.9%
    Dangerous
    3.5%
    Still registered at 10 years
    94.4%

    Lower fail rate: 11.1%, against 22.3% for the SEAT Ibiza, both built around 2018.

    5 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    17,367 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2018 (7 years old), the SEAT Ibiza across all generations combined fails MOTs noticeably more often than typical for this age. It has among the highest fail rates of the 7 SEAT models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age. This is based on 18,536 7-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every SEAT Ibiza ever sold: 251,434 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2018 (7 years old): 18,536 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.