2010 SEAT Ibiza — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 SEAT Ibiza passed 73.7% of its 74,703 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (25.0% fail rate), the 2010 Ibiza comes out 1.3pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (14.2%) and lighting & signalling (12.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, shock absorbers and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 4,899 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.9% versus 11.4%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 26.1% of the time against 26.8% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 31.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.2% | 10,604 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 9,449 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.8% | 6,538 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.6% | 4,962 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 4,160 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 3,948 |
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 | 4,899 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 3,470 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 3,141 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 2,912 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,890 |
| 6 | Washers | 2,700 |
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 | 31.8% | 23,787 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.9% | 22,306 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.9% | 16,371 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.8% | 9,557 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.6% | 8,678 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 5,191 |
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 | 1,097 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 8,766 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 25,235 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 25,695 | 28.3% |
| 120-150k | 10,722 | 28.9% |
| 150k+ | 3,160 | 28.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 53,587 | 26.1% |
| Diesel | 21,116 | 26.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,834 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 16,227 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 15,233 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 13,928 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 12,481 | 27.6% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Ibiza
On a 2010 Ibiza, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (14.2% 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 (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.8% 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 2010 SEAT Ibizas pass their MOT?
73.7% of the 74,703 2010 SEAT Ibiza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 SEAT Ibiza?
Suspension, recorded in 14.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.7%).
Does the 2010 Ibiza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 28.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 74,703 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.