Part of the SEAT Ibiza Mk4 (2008–2017) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2008 SEAT Ibiza: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 SEAT Ibizas, from 4,465 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,465MOT tests in 2025
49%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
6,100typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 SEAT Ibizas than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2× usual
    SEAT Ibiza
    14.7% All 2008 cars
    7.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.5%, against 3.2% of all 2008 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.

  • Exhaust system1.8× usual
    SEAT Ibiza
    16.3% All 2008 cars
    9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 2.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Track rod ends2.3× usual
    SEAT Ibiza
    12.6% All 2008 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, against 2.5% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Steering rack inner joints2.6× usual
    SEAT Ibiza
    7.6% All 2008 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Braking performance1.7× usual
    SEAT Ibiza
    10.8% All 2008 cars
    6.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 2.5% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.4% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars. Sub-frame: 3.4% here, against 7.8% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 SEAT Ibiza MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    52% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    39% 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
    39% 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.

  • Brakes
    35% 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.

  • 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    15% of testsRough price £60–£350

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

Known faults

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Unreliable air conditioning
    All engines

    The air conditioning can give trouble and repairs can be costly.

    At the viewing: Run the air con on full. It should blow cold within a minute, with no hissing.

    Source: Auto Express: used SEAT Ibiza Mk4

  • Electric window motors that short out
    All engines

    The window motors can fail, so a window may stop, refuse to move or even move by itself.

    At the viewing: Open and close every window fully on the test drive.

    Source: Auto Express: used SEAT Ibiza Mk4

  • Rear washer pipe that leaks into the boot
    All engines

    The rear washer's feed pipe can come loose and fill the boot with water.

    At the viewing: Lift the boot floor and feel the carpet for damp, then try the rear washer.

    Source: Auto Express: used SEAT Ibiza Mk4

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023551Tyres 17%
20225,272Tyres 22%
20218,480Tyres 27%
20208,141Tyres 30%
201913,061Tyres 31%
201812,948Tyres 31%
201715,723Suspension 34%
201618,149Suspension 37%
201517,778Suspension 40%
201419,025Suspension 42%
201315,857Suspension 45%
201212,805Suspension 46%
201112,757Suspension 51%
20109,450Suspension 53%
20097,686Suspension 57%
20073,003Suspension 51%
20062,043Suspension 47%
20051,107Suspension 51%
2004888Suspension 44%
2003641Lights and electrics 46%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 SEAT Ibizas registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score