Seat Inca
Registered from 2000 to 2003.
About this model
The SEAT Inca was a van and panel van produced by the Spanish manufacturer SEAT between 1996 and 2004. It was designed and assembled in Spain, based on the SEAT Ibiza Mark 2. It was first shown at the Barcelona Motor Show of 1995.
From the Wikipedia article SEAT Inca, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2002 1.9 diesel. 39 of 112 tests failed, 35%.
Better than 4% of 2002 cars. The typical one fails 27%, across 558 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 54% | 21 |
| Suspension | 51% | 20 |
| Body and structure | 44% | 17 |
| Lights and electrics | 31% | 12 |
| Tyres and wheels | 31% | 12 |
| Steering | 26% | 10 |
The defects inspectors cite
- 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
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- 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.
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
Where it stands out against its peers
- Body and structure: failed more often than 91% of 2002 cars — 44% of its 39 failed tests, where an ordinary 2002 car has 25%.
- Tyres and wheels: failed more often than 96% of 2002 cars — 31% of its 39 failed tests, where an ordinary 2002 car has 12%.
- Steering: failed more often than 94% of 2002 cars — 26% of its 39 failed tests, where an ordinary 2002 car has 5%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Brakes — 54% of its failures
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Parking brake inoperative on one side
- Suspension — 51% of its failures
- 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
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Tyres and wheels — 31% of its failures
- 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.
- Steering — 26% of its failures
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Lights and electrics — 31% of its failures
- Body and structure — 44% of its failures
- 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
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded