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Seat Inca Diesel Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Seat Inca Diesel car check

Is the Seat Inca Diesel reliable? We analysed 1,575 real MOT tests across 355 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,575 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
59.9%
Typical Mileage
125,140mi
Annual Mileage
7,247mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
30yrs

The Seat Inca Diesel is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Seat Inca Diesel.

Seat Inca Diesel Number Plates

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

Seat Inca Diesel MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Seat Inca Diesel to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

61.7%
1999
62.2%
1998
59.6%
1997
57.8%
1996

Seat Inca Diesel Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Brake pipe excessively corroded 190
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 157
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 144
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 117
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 101
Stop lamp not working 96
position lamp(s) not working 92
Registration plate lamp not working 90
constant velocity joint gaiter split 89
Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment 87

Seat Inca Diesel Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
4,491 mi/yr
Typical
7,247 mi/yr
Average
8,393 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,659 mi/yr

Seat Inca Diesel MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Seat Inca Diesel year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1999 128 61.7% 84,091 106,782 133,160
1998 405 62.2% 90,250 112,053 142,367
1997 589 59.6% 106,920 130,342 158,740
1996 410 57.8% 108,891 132,312 163,709

How Long Does a Seat Inca Diesel Last?

Based on 355 Seat Inca Diesel vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.1 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
30 years

Seat Inca Diesel Mileage Distribution

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

Median
125,140 mi
75th Percentile
153,244 mi
95th Percentile
202,363 mi
Max Recorded
257,395 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Seat Inca Diesel

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1998

62.2% MOT pass rate from 405 tests

Year to avoid
1996

57.8% MOT pass rate from 410 tests

The best year to buy a used Seat Inca Diesel is 1998, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 62.2% across 405 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 57.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Seat Inca Diesel Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Seat Inca Diesel THIS CAR 59.9% 1,575 125,140 mi 30 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
Hartford HD-125L 73.7% 1,712 9,505 mi 27 yrs

Compared to the Seat Ibiza (73.7% pass rate) and the Seat Leon (78.0% pass rate), the Seat Inca Diesel trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Seat Inca Diesel?

The Seat Inca Diesel has an overall MOT pass rate of 59.9% across 1,575 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Seat Inca Diesel are brake pipe excessively corroded (190 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (157), and seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (144). 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 Inca Diesel owner drives around 7,247 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.

In terms of longevity, most Seat Inca Diesel models stay on UK roads for around 30 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

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 Inca Diesel — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Seat Inca Diesel reliable?
Based on 1,575 MOT tests, the Seat Inca Diesel has a 59.9% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Seat Inca Diesel?
The most common MOT failures are brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Seat Inca Diesel do per year?
The typical Seat Inca Diesel does around 7,247 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Seat Inca Diesel last?
Most Seat Inca Diesel models stay on UK roads for around 30 years based on our analysis of 355 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Seat Inca Diesel?
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.
What is the best year to buy a Seat Inca Diesel?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Seat Inca Diesel is 1998 with a 62.2% pass rate across 405 tests.