Seat Inca
From 281 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. and steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, caused 23 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 23 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 16 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 16 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 16 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 16 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 15 |
| windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view | 14 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 14 |
| a suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing excessively worn | 14 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 13 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 44.6% of Inca failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 19.1% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £172.
Seat Inca on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 61 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 61. At this rate, roughly 11.8 years until none remain. Now at 8.3% of its peak (8,518 in 2003 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 93 | 618 | +0 | -7 | -7 |
| 2025 Q2 | 99 | 619 | +0 | -6 | -6 |
| 2025 Q1 | 105 | 619 | +0 | -24 | -24 |
| 2024 Q4 | 114 | 634 | +0 | -24 | -24 |
| 2024 Q3 | 119 | 653 | +0 | -13 | -13 |
| 2024 Q2 | 130 | 655 | +0 | -7 | -7 |
| 2024 Q1 | 139 | 653 | +0 | -8 | -8 |
| 2023 Q4 | 146 | 654 | +0 | -4 | -4 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 63.3% | brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle., the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
Typical mileage
Half of all Incas tested had between 92,888 and 156,106 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 123,839 median miles, the Inca has 0.03 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Seat models
| Seat Ibiza | 74.7% |
| Seat Leon | 80.8% |
| Seat Ateca | 89.9% |
| Seat Arona | 87.2% |
| Seat Alhambra | 78.8% |
Common questions
What is the Seat Inca MOT pass rate?
The Seat Inca has a 63% MOT pass rate based on 281 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Seat Inca?
The most common MOT failure on the Seat Inca is the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, which caused 23 failures. Other common issues include brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle..
How many Seat Incas are on UK roads?
There are 93 Seat Incas currently licensed on UK roads, with 618 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Seat Inca at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Seat Inca is 123,839 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 92,888 and 156,106 miles.
Buying a used Inca?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 63% pass rate and an average repair bill of £172 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 44.6% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.