Used car guide

1999 SEAT Ibiza: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the SEAT Ibiza first registered in 1999: we looked at the 248 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 248 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

248MOTs of 1999 cars, done in 2023–2025
64%pass first time (all 1999 cars: 63%)
3,200typical miles a year
3.7×the usual rate for wheel bearings

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1999 SEAT Ibiza?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1999 SEAT Ibiza than on all cars registered in 1999.

  • Wheel bearings3.7× usual
    SEAT Ibiza
    20.6% All 1999 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 1% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

Common 1999 SEAT Ibiza MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1999 SEAT Ibiza MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    40% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    34% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    30% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    27% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    20% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    11% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1999 SEAT Ibiza

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 3.7× as often on the 1999 SEAT Ibiza as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a SEAT Ibiza?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the SEAT Ibiza compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023557Tyres 17%
20225,518Tyres 22%
202116,948Tyres 24%
202024,553Tyres 27%
201938,757Tyres 28%
201838,349Tyres 31%
201747,088Tyres 33%
201654,450Tyres 35%
201553,602Tyres 35%
201457,914Suspension 37%
201348,762Suspension 40%
201240,369Suspension 40%
201141,238Suspension 47%
201031,437Suspension 49%
200926,411Suspension 54%
200816,204Suspension 49%
200711,583Suspension 48%
20068,209Suspension 45%
20054,484Suspension 50%
20043,612Suspension 45%
20032,754Suspension 45%
2002947Suspension 44%
2001437Suspension 41%
2000210Suspension 38%
1998187Brakes 36%
1997–Too few tests
1996–Too few tests
1995–Too few tests
1994–Too few tests
1993–Too few tests
1992–Too few tests
1991–Too few tests
1990–Too few tests
1989–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of SEAT Ibiza cars first registered in 1999. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score