2003 Seat Inca — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 271 MOT tests analysed for the 2003 Seat Inca, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension. Its pass rate of 66.8% was below the average for cars of a similar age (74.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 44.6% in the 150k+ group versus 32.4% in the 60-90k group.

Pass rate

271

MOT tests analysed

33.2%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

19.4

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2003 Seat Inca
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Brakes	19.2%	52
2	Lighting & signalling	18.4%	50
3	Suspension	14.8%	40
4	Body, structure & corrosion	11.4%	31
5	Steering	9.6%	26
6	Visibility	7.4%	20

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2003 Seat Inca
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Rigid brake pipes	36
2	Service brake performance	30
3	Service brake imbalance	25
4	Headlamp aim	25
5	Position lamp	20
6	Steering rack	19

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2003 Seat Inca
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Brakes	35.8%	97
2	Suspension	29.9%	81
3	Tyres	29.5%	80
4	Body, structure & corrosion	25.8%	70
5	Other defects	21.8%	59
6	Visibility	18.8%	51

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2003 Inca
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
60-90k	34	32.4%
90-120k	76	26.3%
120-150k	86	37.2%
150k+	56	44.6%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2003 Inca
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2021	94	37.2%
2022	62	30.6%
2023	47	31.9%
2024	39	30.8%

What to check before buying a 2003 Inca

Before buying a 2003 Seat Inca, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 19.2% of tests for this year.

Brakes (19.2% 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.
Lighting & signalling (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Suspension (14.8% 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.

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 2003 Seat Incas pass their MOT?

66.8% of the 271 2003 Seat Inca MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.2% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Seat Inca?

Brakes, recorded in 19.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.4%).

Does the 2003 Inca get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.4% in the 60-90k band to 44.6% in the 150k+ band.

Methodology & source. Based on 271 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.