Used car guide

2003 SEAT Ibiza diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel SEAT Ibiza first registered in 2003 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 379 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 379 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

379MOTs of 2003 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
52%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 57%)
6,600typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2003 SEAT Ibiza diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2003 SEAT Ibiza diesel than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.6× usual
    SEAT Ibiza
    17.2% All 2003 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.9%, against 2.9% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

Common 2003 SEAT Ibiza diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2003 SEAT Ibiza diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    45% 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
    43% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    42% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    37% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    17% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    16% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2003 SEAT Ibiza diesel

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

  1. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2003 SEAT Ibiza diesel 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%
2002947Suspension 44%
2001437Suspension 41%
2000210Suspension 38%
1999248Lights and electrics 40%
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 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score