2003 SEAT Inca — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 SEAT Inca passed 66.8% of its 271 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2003 Inca comes out 5.5pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (19.2%) and lighting & signalling (18.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, service brake performance and headlamp aim — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 36 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 32.4% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 44.6% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 37.2% in 2021 to 30.8% in 2024, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 19.2% | 52 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 50 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.8% | 40 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.4% | 31 |
| 5 | Steering | 9.6% | 26 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.4% | 20 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 36 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 30 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 25 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 20 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 19 |
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 | 35.8% | 97 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.9% | 81 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.5% | 80 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.8% | 70 |
| 5 | Other defects | 21.8% | 59 |
| 6 | Visibility | 18.8% | 51 |
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 | 34 | 32.4% |
| 90-120k | 76 | 26.3% |
| 120-150k | 86 | 37.2% |
| 150k+ | 56 | 44.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 94 | 37.2% |
| 2022 | 62 | 30.6% |
| 2023 | 47 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 39 | 30.8% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Inca
On a 2003 Inca, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (19.2% 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 (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.8% 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.
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 2003 SEAT Incas pass their MOT?
66.8% of the 271 2003 SEAT Inca MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 SEAT Inca?
Brakes, recorded in 19.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.4%).
Does the 2003 Inca get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.4% in the 60-90k band to 44.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 271 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.