2018 SEAT Ibiza MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 72.3% of SEAT Ibizas first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. Across 38,943 Ibiza first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were steering, tyres and lamps and electrical equipment.

This page analyses first MOT tests for SEAT Ibizas first used in 2018 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
72.3%
of 12,951 first tests; all cars first used in 2018: 80.9%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
38,943
first tests, 2023–2025; 12,951 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
40.9%
of 12,951 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
50,500
middle half: 38,000–65,000 miles; all cars first used in 2018: 52,000

How the 2018 SEAT Ibiza MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Ibizas first used in 2018 against all cars first used in 2018 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Ibiza figure was 8.6 points lower.

2018 IbizaAll cars first used in 2018
70%80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2018, test year 2021: 87.6%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2022: 86.3%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2023: 84.2%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2024: 82.5%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2025: 80.9%2018 Ibiza, test year 2021: 89%2018 Ibiza, test year 2022: 86.8%2018 Ibiza, test year 2023: 79.4%2018 Ibiza, test year 2024: 75.1%2018 Ibiza, test year 2025: 72.3%80.9%72.3%
View this chart as a table
Test year2018 IbizaAll cars first used 2018Ibiza first tests
202189.0%87.6%13,413
202286.8%86.3%13,151
202379.4%84.2%12,989
202475.1%82.5%13,003
202572.3%80.9%12,951

Common 2018 SEAT Ibiza MOT failures

Share of the 9,510 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Steering38.7%
Tyres25.8%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment20.5%
Visibility15.7%
Brakes14.7%
Suspension10.2%
Noise, emissions and leaks4.4%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems2.4%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt31.1%2,958
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm12.2%1,157
Washers: not working8.0%758
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.2%682
Headlamp aim: too low6.5%614

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2018 SEAT Ibiza before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Steering. Worth feeling for play or knocks in the steering on the test drive, and asking when the tracking was last checked.
  2. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  3. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.

Common 2018 SEAT Ibiza MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2018 Ibizas, as a share of all 38,943 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge16.1%6,253
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing10.3%4,016
Brake pads: wearing thin8.1%3,170
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened7.6%2,964
Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil4.1%1,594

Questions about the 2018 SEAT Ibiza MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2018 SEAT Ibiza?

In 2025, 72.3% of Ibizas first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2018 Ibiza most often fail its MOT on?

Steering (in 38.7% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (25.8%) and lamps and electrical equipment (20.5%). The single most common item was “Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” (31.1%).

How often does a 2018 SEAT Ibiza fail its MOT?

In 2025, 27.7% of first tests on Ibizas first used in 2018 did not pass first time: 23.9% failed, and a further 3.8% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 9,510 of 38,943 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2018 SEAT Ibiza MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 16.1% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (10.3%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (8.1%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (7.6%) and “Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil” (4.1%).

Is a 2018 SEAT Ibiza reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 89.0% in 2021 to 72.3% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2018

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2018 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2018 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2018 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2018 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2018 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics

How the 2018 SEAT Ibiza MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2018 Ibiza” means a SEAT Ibiza whose date of first use falls in 2018 (67, 18 and 68 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2018, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.