2021 SEAT Ibiza — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 SEAT Ibiza passed 91.0% of its 18,673 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 7.8% of the time, so this is 1.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.0%) and brakes (2.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 432 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 Ibiza fails 7.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.1% of tests failed in 2023 against 9.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.0% | 936 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.5% | 464 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 458 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.1% | 382 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.0% | 189 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 57 |
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 | 432 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 330 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 327 |
| 4 | Washers | 295 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 149 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 121 |
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 | 20.4% | 3,817 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.4% | 2,686 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.7% | 870 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.1% | 383 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 252 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.0% | 185 |
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 | 11,448 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 6,595 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 548 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 58 | 10.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 380 | 7.1% |
| 2024 | 9,067 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 9,213 | 9.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Ibiza
On a 2021 Ibiza, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
- Brakes (2.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.5% 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 2021 SEAT Ibizas pass their MOT?
91.0% of the 18,673 2021 SEAT Ibiza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 SEAT Ibiza?
Tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by brakes (2.5%).
Does the 2021 Ibiza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 10.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,673 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.