2009 SEAT Ibiza — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 SEAT Ibiza passed 71.7% of its 65,127 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (26.0% fail rate), the 2009 Ibiza comes out 2.3pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.1%) and lighting & signalling (13.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and track rod end — headlamp aim alone was recorded 4,365 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.2% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.2% of the time against 28.7% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.1% | 10,514 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 8,989 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.6% | 6,267 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.0% | 4,552 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 4,240 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 3,844 |
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 | 4,365 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 3,843 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 3,175 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 3,004 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2,729 |
| 6 | Washers | 2,693 |
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 | 32.7% | 21,279 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.6% | 19,931 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.7% | 14,124 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.1% | 9,210 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.8% | 8,953 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.1% | 5,943 |
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 | 804 | 15.8% |
| 30-60k | 6,856 | 21.4% |
| 60-90k | 20,866 | 27.3% |
| 90-120k | 23,607 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 10,138 | 30.6% |
| 150k+ | 2,842 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 56,073 | 28.2% |
| Diesel | 9,054 | 28.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,159 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 14,374 | 28.1% |
| 2023 | 13,358 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 11,954 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 10,282 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Ibiza
On a 2009 Ibiza, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2009 SEAT Ibizas pass their MOT?
71.7% of the 65,127 2009 SEAT Ibiza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 SEAT Ibiza?
Suspension, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.8%).
Does the 2009 Ibiza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 65,127 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.