2004 SEAT Ibiza — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,069 MOT tests, the 2004 SEAT Ibiza recorded a 69.6% pass rate. That is 1.2 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 29.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests against 13.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and stop lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 787 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.5% versus 16.4%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 29.3% of the time against 30.5% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.2% in 2021 to 29.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 1,943 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.9% | 1,540 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 1,154 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.8% | 1,088 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.9% | 989 |
| 6 | Visibility | 8.3% | 915 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 787 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 711 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 708 |
| 4 | Joints | 675 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 653 |
| 6 | Washers | 556 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 30.7% | 3,400 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.9% | 3,093 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.4% | 2,587 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.2% | 2,237 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.7% | 2,069 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.2% | 1,573 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 244 | 16.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,592 | 24.8% |
| 60-90k | 3,371 | 30.3% |
| 90-120k | 3,434 | 32.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,588 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 826 | 31.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 9,497 | 30.5% |
| Diesel | 1,572 | 29.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,540 | 31.2% |
| 2022 | 2,679 | 30.1% |
| 2023 | 2,103 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 1,579 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 1,168 | 29.3% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Ibiza
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.9% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.4% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2004 SEAT Ibizas pass their MOT?
69.6% of the 11,069 2004 SEAT Ibiza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 SEAT Ibiza?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests, followed by suspension (13.9%).
Does the 2004 Ibiza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.4% in the 0-30k band to 31.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,069 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.