2013 SEAT Ibiza — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 107,138 MOT tests, the 2013 SEAT Ibiza recorded a 76.8% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (21.1% fail rate), the 2013 Ibiza comes out 2.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.5%) and suspension (9.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 5,580 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.6% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.7% fail against 25.3% for diesel, a 2.6-point gap across 107,138 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 12,309 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.6% | 10,333 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 9,181 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.4% | 6,832 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 6,330 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 3,562 |
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 | 5,580 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 4,876 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 4,558 |
| 4 | Washers | 4,517 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 3,838 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 3,686 |
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 | 28.9% | 30,995 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.7% | 27,554 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.6% | 23,105 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.5% | 17,707 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 7,259 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 5,923 |
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 | 3,350 | 11.9% |
| 30-60k | 27,013 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 44,988 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 23,897 | 26.9% |
| 120-150k | 6,365 | 28.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,514 | 29.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 87,234 | 22.7% |
| Diesel | 19,904 | 25.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,645 | 20.2% |
| 2022 | 21,663 | 21.5% |
| 2023 | 21,656 | 23.7% |
| 2024 | 21,352 | 24.9% |
| 2025 | 20,822 | 25.8% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Ibiza
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.6% 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.
- Brakes (8.6% 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 2013 SEAT Ibizas pass their MOT?
76.8% of the 107,138 2013 SEAT Ibiza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 SEAT Ibiza?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by suspension (9.6%).
Does the 2013 Ibiza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.9% in the 0-30k band to 29.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 107,138 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.