Used Seat Ibiza 2017-present reliability

Check the extremities of the car for any dents and scuffs picked up in car parks. Examine any alloy wheels for kerb damage, because not only can that be expensive to repair, but could also be an indication of possible suspension damage. Also check the interior for any premature signs of wear on the trim.

Rear seatbelt can unbuckle

Seat Ibizas made between 1 May 2017 and 26 September 2018 had an issue with the left rear seatbelt buckle releasing the seatbelt in extreme circumstances. If all three rear seats were occupied, the movement of the middle passenger during sudden high-speed cornering could be enough to unlatch the left seatbelt buckle. Affected cars should have a spacer fitted between the two buckles to prevent it from happening, so check with your Seat dealer to make sure it's been sorted.

Increased handbrake travel

The nut that holds the handbrake adjustment in place can work loose on some Ibizas built between 25 May 2017 and 6 November 2018. That could allow the car to move if the adjustment is slack enough, so make sure this fix has been carried out by speaking to your local Seat dealer.

The current Seat Ibiza finished in last place, 18th out of 18 cars, in the small car class in our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey, with a score of 87.3%, which is not very encouraging.

Reliability rating 87.3%

Faults with infotainment systems made up nearly half of the issues reported for the Seat Ibiza, with engine, electric and exhaust faults accounting for the rest. Overall, 32% of Ibizas went wrong, 47% of which were out of action for more than a week. Seat covered the cost of 87% of repairs, but 7% of owners paid between £301 and £500.

Pros

• Majority of faulty cars remained driveable
• A small proportion of cars were fixed in a day or less

Cons

• Many reports of faulty infotainment systems
• High percentage of cars stuck in the garage for more than seven days
• Some owners paid up to £500 for repairs

Seat as a brand performed well, finishing in 18th place out of 32 manufacturers, with a respectable overall score of 90.9%. This result put the brand above the likes of Alfa Romeo, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault and Volkswagen, but below BMW, Citroen, Ford, Kia and Skoda.

Used Seat Ibiza reliability: the owners' view

As part of our 2023 Reliability Survey, What Car? readers have provided insights into the reliability and dealer service of the Seat Ibiza.

Generally, owners find the Ibiza a reliable vehicle with few significant mechanical issues. Nonetheless, there are recurring mentions of minor problems, including issues with the infotainment system and occasional warning light malfunctions. These all conspired to put the Ibiza at the bottom of its class this year.

Feedback on dealer service also reveals a mixed picture. Some owners praised the dealerships for their efficient and professional handling of repairs, noting that issues were resolved promptly and satisfactorily. However, a notable number of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with long waiting times for appointments and repairs, as well as a lack of communication from some service centres. There were also concerns about the cost of repairs, particularly for issues that arose shortly after the warranty period expired.

In summary, the Seat Ibiza offers room for improvement in terms of reliability, and owners would like to see a stronger performance from the dealer service too.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.