2017 SEAT Ibiza — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 SEAT Ibiza passed 82.4% of its 95,565 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (13.4% fail rate), the 2017 Ibiza comes out 4.2pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.8%) and suspension (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, pins and bushes and tread depth — track rod end alone was recorded 5,700 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.1% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 17.6% fail against 21.6% for diesel, a 4.0-point gap across 95,565 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 5,558 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.3% | 5,058 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.9% | 4,695 |
| 4 | Steering | 4.0% | 3,875 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 3,514 |
| 6 | Brakes | 3.4% | 3,284 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 5,700 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 3,962 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 3,561 |
| 4 | Wipers | 2,750 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,731 |
| 6 | Washers | 2,728 |
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 | 27.1% | 25,931 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.6% | 17,798 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.5% | 14,855 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.8% | 6,470 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.5% | 3,341 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 2,749 |
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 | 24,098 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 50,946 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 17,341 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,731 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 362 | 21.8% |
| 150k+ | 82 | 28.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 94,944 | 17.6% |
| Diesel | 621 | 21.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,123 | 11.8% |
| 2022 | 18,698 | 15.0% |
| 2023 | 19,630 | 19.8% |
| 2024 | 19,658 | 20.6% |
| 2025 | 19,456 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Ibiza
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.8% 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.
- Suspension (5.3% 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.
- Visibility (4.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2017 SEAT Ibizas pass their MOT?
82.4% of the 95,565 2017 SEAT Ibiza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 SEAT Ibiza?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by suspension (5.3%).
Does the 2017 Ibiza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 28.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 95,565 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.