Seat Ibiza Reference Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Seat Ibiza Reference car check
Is the Seat Ibiza Reference reliable? We analysed 1,797 real MOT tests across 532 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Seat Ibiza Reference? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Seat Ibiza Reference is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, stop lamp not working and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Seat Ibiza Reference.
Seat Ibiza Reference — specs & performance
Verified from DVLA & DVSA recordsA snapshot of the engine, performance, dimensions, fuel economy and running costs for the Seat Ibiza Reference — drawn from official DVLA vehicle records and the DVSA fuel-economy database.
Engine & Performance
- Engine size
- 1198cc
- Power
- 64 BHP
- 0–62 mph
- 14.9 sec
- Fuel type
- Petrol
Body & Dimensions
- Body type
- Car
- Common colour
- Grey
- Wheel plan
- 2 Axle Rigid Body
Fuel Economy
- Combined
- 47.1 mpg
- Urban
- 36.7 mpg
- Extra-urban
- 55.4 mpg
- Fuel cost / 12k mi
- £1857
Tax & Emissions
- CO2 output
- 142 g/km Band F
- Emission class
- Not Available
- Road tax (12 mo.)
- £160
- Road tax (6 mo.)
- £88
Seat Ibiza Reference Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Seat Ibiza Reference. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Seat Ibiza Reference MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Seat Ibiza Reference to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Seat Ibiza Reference Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Seat Ibiza Reference fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Seat Ibiza Reference Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Seat Ibiza Reference owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Seat Ibiza Reference MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Seat Ibiza Reference year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 109 | 68.8% | 32,784 | 48,774 | 73,774 |
Seat Ibiza Reference Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Seat Ibiza Reference MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Seat Ibiza Reference
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
68.8% MOT pass rate from 109 tests
The best year to buy a used Seat Ibiza Reference is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 68.8% across 109 tests.
How Does the Seat Ibiza Reference Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Ibiza Reference THIS CAR | 75.1% | 1,797 | 88,298 mi | 21 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 |
| Suzuki GSF650 Sa K8 | 86.4% | 3,202 | 16,138 mi | 18 yrs |
Compared to the Seat Ibiza (73.7% pass rate) and the Seat Leon (78.0% pass rate), the Seat Ibiza Reference sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Seat Ibiza Reference you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Seat Ibiza ReferenceShould you buy a used Seat Ibiza Reference?
The Seat Ibiza Reference has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.1% across 1,797 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 Reference are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (22 recorded failures), stop lamp not working (11), and position lamp(s) not working (7). 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 Reference owner drives around 4,854 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 Ibiza Reference models stay on UK roads for around 21 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.