1999 SEAT Ibiza — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 SEAT Ibiza passed 76.3% of its 650 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (29.3% fail rate), the 1999 Ibiza comes out 5.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests against 8.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, wheel bearings and stop lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 75 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 36.8% versus 18.9%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.3% in 2021 to 20.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 92 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 57 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.8% | 57 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.8% | 57 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 39 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 33 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 75 |
| 2 | Wheel bearings | 33 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 32 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 27 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 26 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 22 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 37.2% | 242 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.9% | 207 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.4% | 165 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.2% | 105 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.9% | 90 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 76 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 169 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 175 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 147 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 65 | 21.5% |
| 150k+ | 68 | 36.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 611 | 22.8% |
| Diesel | 39 | 38.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 178 | 25.3% |
| 2022 | 157 | 23.6% |
| 2023 | 119 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 105 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 91 | 20.9% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Ibiza
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (8.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (8.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1999 SEAT Ibizas pass their MOT?
76.3% of the 650 1999 SEAT Ibiza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 SEAT Ibiza?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (8.8%).
Does the 1999 Ibiza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.9% in the 30-60k band to 36.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 650 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.