2002 SEAT Inca — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 553 MOT tests, the 2002 SEAT Inca recorded a 67.5% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.5% of the time, so this is 5.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (19.7%) and suspension (16.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, service brake imbalance and rigid brake pipes — service brake performance alone was recorded 71 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 32.5% versus 25.8%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 41.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.0% in 2021 to 16.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 19.7% | 109 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.8% | 93 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 86 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 72 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.0% | 44 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.7% | 37 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 71 |
| 2 | Service brake imbalance | 46 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 44 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 40 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 37 |
| 6 | Wipers | 33 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 41.0% | 227 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.6% | 169 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.9% | 149 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.5% | 119 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.3% | 90 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 83 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 93 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 118 | 37.3% |
| 120-150k | 135 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 163 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 178 | 36.0% |
| 2022 | 131 | 32.1% |
| 2023 | 112 | 34.8% |
| 2024 | 76 | 34.2% |
| 2025 | 56 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Inca
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 19.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (19.7% 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.
- Suspension (16.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.6% 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 2002 SEAT Incas pass their MOT?
67.5% of the 553 2002 SEAT Inca MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 SEAT Inca?
Brakes, recorded in 19.7% of tests, followed by suspension (16.8%).
Does the 2002 Inca get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.8% in the 60-90k band to 32.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 553 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.