2015 SEAT Ibiza — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 112,382 MOT tests, the 2015 SEAT Ibiza recorded a 79.9% pass rate. That is 2.5 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 17.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.2%) and suspension (7.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and tread depth — pins and bushes alone was recorded 5,622 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.0% in the 0-30k band and 29.3% in the 150k+ band, a 18.4-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 20.0% fail against 22.3% for diesel, a 2.3-point gap across 112,382 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 10,345 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.9% | 8,927 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.9% | 7,785 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.2% | 6,907 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.0% | 6,781 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 1,560 |
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 | 5,622 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 4,872 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 4,708 |
| 4 | Washers | 4,367 |
| 5 | Wipers | 3,425 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 3,330 |
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 | 28.1% | 31,593 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.6% | 26,563 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.1% | 23,697 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.8% | 12,148 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 3,950 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 3,748 |
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 | 10,025 | 11.0% |
| 30-60k | 50,803 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 38,775 | 23.2% |
| 90-120k | 10,591 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,758 | 26.1% |
| 150k+ | 402 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 108,538 | 20.0% |
| Diesel | 3,844 | 22.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,891 | 16.2% |
| 2022 | 22,258 | 18.0% |
| 2023 | 22,751 | 20.6% |
| 2024 | 22,822 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 22,660 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Ibiza
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.9% 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.
- Tyres (6.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2015 SEAT Ibizas pass their MOT?
79.9% of the 112,382 2015 SEAT Ibiza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 SEAT Ibiza?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by suspension (7.9%).
Does the 2015 Ibiza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.0% in the 0-30k band to 29.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 112,382 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.