2011 SEAT Ibiza — MOT failures & pass rate
94,838 MOT tests on the 2011 SEAT Ibiza are in this dataset, and 74.6% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (23.9% fail rate), the 2011 Ibiza comes out 1.5pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 13.1% of tests against 10.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and shock absorbers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 5,395 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.2% versus 9.6%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.0% fail against 26.6% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 94,834 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 31.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.1% | 12,459 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 9,438 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 8,572 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.0% | 6,658 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 4,791 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 4,507 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 5,395 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 4,905 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 4,659 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 3,757 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 3,486 |
| 6 | Washers | 3,097 |
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 | 31.2% | 29,619 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.0% | 28,416 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.3% | 20,194 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.7% | 12,024 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 10,592 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 6,673 |
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 | 1,432 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 14,466 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 35,925 | 25.3% |
| 90-120k | 29,379 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 10,638 | 28.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,977 | 28.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 72,142 | 25.0% |
| Diesel | 22,692 | 26.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,348 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 19,835 | 24.2% |
| 2023 | 19,316 | 25.6% |
| 2024 | 18,408 | 26.8% |
| 2025 | 16,931 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Ibiza
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.1% 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 (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.0% 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 2011 SEAT Ibizas pass their MOT?
74.6% of the 94,838 2011 SEAT Ibiza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 SEAT Ibiza?
Suspension, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.0%).
Does the 2011 Ibiza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 28.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 94,838 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.