2012 SEAT Ibiza MOT pass rate: 67.1% (40,069 tests)
Is the 2012 Ibiza getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 68.5% -3.8 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 67.0% -4.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 65.8% -4.5 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2012 Ibiza
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8,945 | 23.7% |
| 2 | Brakes | 8,397 | 22.2% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5,857 | 15.5% |
| 4 | Tyres | 4,528 | 12.0% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 3,079 | 8.1% |
| 6 | Visibility | 2,588 | 6.8% |
All Ibiza years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2,744 | 59.8% | -5.1 pts | 95,205 |
| 2004 | 3,584 | 60.1% | -4.2 pts | 91,951 |
| 2005 | 4,441 | 59.6% | -4.8 pts | 98,375 |
| 2006 | 8,137 | 60.4% | -4.0 pts | 99,700 |
| 2007 | 11,496 | 58.7% | -6.4 pts | 99,168 |
| 2008 | 16,083 | 58.1% | -7.1 pts | 100,712 |
| 2009 | 26,186 | 61.4% | -5.0 pts | 98,556 |
| 2010 | 31,165 | 64.2% | -3.1 pts | 96,399 |
| 2011 | 40,899 | 65.1% | -4.1 pts | 91,331 |
| 2012 (this page) | 40,069 | 67.1% | -4.1 pts | 85,584 |
| 2013 | 48,531 | 67.9% | -5.5 pts | 80,660 |
| 2014 | 57,638 | 70.2% | -5.7 pts | 71,310 |
| 2015 | 53,360 | 72.2% | -6.5 pts | 63,802 |
| 2016 | 54,202 | 73.0% | -8.3 pts | 57,453 |
| 2017 | 46,903 | 74.9% | -9.1 pts | 49,306 |
| 2018 | 38,191 | 79.4% | -6.9 pts | 42,684 |
| 2019 | 34,317 | 88.2% | -0.2 pts | 34,054 |
| 2020 | 22,593 | 89.5% | -0.4 pts | 28,254 |
| 2021 | 16,477 | 90.2% | -0.2 pts | 25,981 |
| 2022 | 4,636 | 90.3% | -0.9 pts | 22,044 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: SEAT Ibiza years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2012 SEAT Ibiza reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 67.1% of their MOT tests (40,069 tests, 2023–2025), -4.1 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 85,584 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 Ibiza?
The median tested example shows 85,584 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.