2018 Seat Ibiza — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 74,939 MOT tests analysed for the 2018 Seat Ibiza, the most common recorded failure areas were steering, tyres and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 86.3% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (88.8%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steering | 5.1% | 3,811 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.9% | 3,687 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 2,807 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 2,089 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.5% | 1,856 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.4% | 1,065 |
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 | 5,294 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,484 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,390 |
| 4 | Washers | 1,753 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,125 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 743 |
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 | 24.0% | 18,012 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.5% | 10,867 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.0% | 4,508 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.1% | 3,820 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.5% | 3,373 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.2% | 1,657 |
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 | 29,331 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 35,203 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 8,965 | 21.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,202 | 24.3% |
| 120-150k | 178 | 25.3% |
| 150k+ | 54 | 7.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 74,082 | 13.7% |
| Diesel | 857 | 15.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,405 | 7.4% |
| 2022 | 14,332 | 8.7% |
| 2023 | 15,040 | 14.4% |
| 2024 | 15,398 | 17.7% |
| 2025 | 15,764 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Ibiza
Before buying a 2018 Seat Ibiza, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Steering accounted for 5.1% of tests for this year.
- Steering (5.1% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- Tyres (4.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2018 Seat Ibizas pass their MOT?
86.3% of the 74,939 2018 Seat Ibiza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Seat Ibiza?
Steering, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by tyres (4.9%).
Does the 2018 Ibiza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 7.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 74,939 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.