2008 Seat Ibiza — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 43,242 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Seat Ibiza, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 69.5% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (73.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 30.5% in the 150k+ group versus 20.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.6% | 7,609 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.5% | 6,261 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.6% | 4,995 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 3,891 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 3,328 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.3% | 3,172 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 3,598 |
| 2 | Washers | 2,477 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 2,457 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 2,331 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 2,226 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 2,122 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 31.9% | 13,772 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.4% | 12,696 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.9% | 10,751 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.3% | 7,481 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.7% | 7,200 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 4,576 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 531 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,843 | 24.4% |
| 60-90k | 12,935 | 29.3% |
| 90-120k | 15,785 | 31.9% |
| 120-150k | 7,468 | 33.2% |
| 150k+ | 2,661 | 30.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 35,349 | 30.6% |
| Diesel | 7,893 | 29.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,102 | 30.1% |
| 2022 | 9,950 | 30.1% |
| 2023 | 8,730 | 30.7% |
| 2024 | 7,428 | 31.0% |
| 2025 | 6,032 | 30.7% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Ibiza
Before buying a 2008 Seat Ibiza, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 17.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (17.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (11.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2008 Seat Ibizas pass their MOT?
69.5% of the 43,242 2008 Seat Ibiza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Seat Ibiza?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.6% of tests, followed by suspension (14.5%).
Does the 2008 Ibiza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 0-30k band to 30.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 43,242 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.