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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2007 SEAT Ibiza MOT fail rate and common faults

How SEAT Ibiza cars first used in 2007 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 17,442 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 18 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 18 (n=3,022)50.7%
All cars at 18 years (n=3,261,622)43.3%
Difference+7.4 pts
MOT tests of 2007 cars, 2022 to 202517,442

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 18 years old, SEAT Ibiza cars first used in 2007 failed 50.7% of MOTs (3,022 tests), 7.4 points above the 43.3% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 15 to 18 years old, the fail rate moved from 51.0% to 50.7%.
  • SEAT Ibiza cars first used a year earlier, in 2006, failed 49.7% at the same age of 18 years (2,757 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the SEAT Ibiza at 18 years, is driveshaft CV boot split, at 5.9 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 3.2).

MOT fail rate by test year

SEAT Ibiza cars first used in 2007: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
202215 years51.0%5,73441.6%+9.4 pts
202316 years51.3%4,77842.6%+8.8 pts
202417 years52.4%3,90843.1%+9.3 pts
202518 years50.7%3,02243.3%+7.4 pts

Most common faults at 18 years

These figures cover all SEAT Ibiza MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2004 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=9,734). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Side/position light not working Wear8.35.6
Brake light not working Wear7.84.0
Driveshaft CV boot split5.93.2
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear5.54.0
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear4.92.3
Engine warning lamp at the petrol emissions check: not working or showing a fault4.82.5
Handbrake too weak3.92.8
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear3.72.9
Coil spring broken3.73.1
Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.61.8

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=9,734). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear19.617.4
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear12.29.8
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive12.012.6
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened11.611.1
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases10.35.0
Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement8.58.5
Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated8.04.0
Coil spring: corroded7.17.7
Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Wear6.85.4
Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened6.22.9

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=9,734). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 18 years

These figures cover all SEAT Ibiza MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2004 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=9,734). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Petrol83.5%50.6%8,12443.2%93,652 miles
Diesel16.5%47.3%1,61043.6%131,781 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 18 years

These figures cover all SEAT Ibiza MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2004 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=9,734). At 18 years, SEAT Ibiza cars at 120,000 to 150,000 miles failed more often (53.9%, n=1,761) than those at 30,000 to 60,000 miles (40.4%, n=1,126). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
30,000 to 60,000 miles40.4%1,12632.9%
60,000 to 90,000 miles49.4%2,62941.7%
90,000 to 120,000 miles53.8%3,13846.3%
120,000 to 150,000 miles53.9%1,76147.5%

Car tax rules for a 2007 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2007 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the SEAT Ibiza

Other SEAT models first used in 2007

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
SEAT Leon (2007)18 years in 202539.8%3,24943.3%
SEAT Altea (2007)18 years in 202545.7%1,59743.3%

More on the SEAT Ibiza

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2007 SEAT Ibiza cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.