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Seat Ibiza SE Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Seat Ibiza SE car check

Is the Seat Ibiza SE reliable? We analysed 3,894 real MOT tests across 601 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,894 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
85.4%
Typical Mileage
72,588mi
Annual Mileage
6,156mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Seat Ibiza SE is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image, stop lamp not working and headlamp not working on dipped beam. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Seat Ibiza SE.

Seat Ibiza SE Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Seat Ibiza SE. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Seat Ibiza SE Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Seat Ibiza SE fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image 4
Stop lamp not working 3
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 2
Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement 1
position lamp(s) not working 1
position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance 1
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 1
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 1
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 1
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1

Seat Ibiza SE Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Seat Ibiza SE owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,981 mi/yr
Typical
6,156 mi/yr
Average
6,991 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,098 mi/yr

Seat Ibiza SE Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Seat Ibiza SE MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
72,588 mi
75th Percentile
96,500 mi
95th Percentile
133,065 mi
Max Recorded
191,835 mi

How Does the Seat Ibiza SE Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Seat Ibiza SE THIS CAR 85.4% 3,894 72,588 mi — yrs
Seat Ibiza 73.7% 3,964,856 60,259 mi 31 yrs
Seat Leon 78% 3,000,659 70,859 mi 26 yrs
Seat Alhambra 72.5% 690,916 95,606 mi 30 yrs
Vauxhall Insignia Sri 84.4% 2,066 76,728 mi — yrs

Compared to the Seat Ibiza (73.7% pass rate) and the Seat Leon (78.0% pass rate), the Seat Ibiza SE outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Seat Ibiza SE you like?

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Should you buy a used Seat Ibiza SE?

The Seat Ibiza SE has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.4% across 3,894 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Seat Ibiza SE are headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (4 recorded failures), stop lamp not working (3), and headlamp not working on dipped beam (2). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Seat Ibiza SE owner drives around 6,156 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Seat Ibiza SE — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Seat Ibiza SE reliable?
Based on 3,894 MOT tests, the Seat Ibiza SE has a 85.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Seat Ibiza SE?
The most common MOT failures are headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image, stop lamp not working, and headlamp not working on dipped beam. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Seat Ibiza SE do per year?
The typical Seat Ibiza SE does around 6,156 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Seat Ibiza SE last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Seat Ibiza SE?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.