2017 SEAT Leon 1.2L Petrol · AY64 AAN

A persistent pattern of front nearside shock absorber oil misting, accompanied by a one-time headlamp aim failure and recurring front tyre wear, defines the mechanical character of this SEAT Leon across its recorded MOT history. The most recent test on 29 August 2026 was a pass, but it carried forward the long-standing nearside front shock advisory and introduced a new advisory noting brake disc wear and pitting across all four corners, which signals that the braking hardware is beginning to age out of its service life. The single recorded failure on 31 August 2024 was caused solely by incorrect headlamp beam aim on both sides, a rectification item rather than a structural or wear-related defect, and the vehicle passed on the same date once the lights were corrected. The fact that the nearside front shock absorber has been flagged at every single test since at least 2023 demonstrates a chronic, if minor, sealing issue on that corner, and the progression of brake disc advisories in 2026 suggests that braking system wear is now becoming a more prominent feature of the inspection record. With four recorded tests spanning 2023 to 2026 and a current odometer reading of 79,639 miles, this nine-year-old Leon has accumulated mileage at a steady annual rate of roughly 8,800 miles, which sits within the normal band for a car of its age and indicates regular rather than sporadic use. There are no multi-year gaps in testing that would suggest a prolonged period off the road, and no anomalous jumps in recorded mileage between tests. This consistent usage pattern means that wear on suspension, braking, and tyre components has been incremental rather than the product of either neglect or excessive high-mileage running, though the advisory accumulation nonetheless indicates that certain components are reaching the stage where proactive replacement should be expected. For a prospective buyer, the nearside front shock absorber requires direct physical inspection rather than reliance on the MOT advisory alone, because light oil misting recorded over three consecutive years can progress to a more substantive leak that compromises damping performance. On a test drive, listen for a clonking or knocking noise from the front nearside over speed humps, broken tarmac, and mid-corner bumps, and pay particular attention to any excessive nose-dive under braking or rear-end squat under acceleration, as these can indicate that the damper is no longer controlling body movement effectively. The front nearside tyre shoulder wear noted in 2023 and 2024 is also worth investigating, as persistent one-sided wear on the same axle typically points to an underlying geometry issue such as worn suspension bushes, a fatigued coil spring, or alignment drift following the chronic shock issue, and a four-wheel alignment check should be considered alongside any tyre replacement. The brake disc pitting advisory issued in 2026 across all four corners warrants a careful assessment of pedal feel and stopping performance during a road test, specifically looking for vibration or judder through the steering wheel or brake pedal under firm application, which would indicate that the disc surface irregularity has progressed to the point of measurable run-out. Listen for any grinding or scraping noises that would suggest pad wear has reached the metal backing, and check that the vehicle pulls up straight without steering pull under braking, as binding calipers can present alongside disc wear on a car of this age and mileage. Finally, verify that both headlamps are correctly aimed by parking on level ground facing a wall, as the 2024 failure indicates that adjustment can drift, and confirm that the nearside front shock reservoir is dry rather than showing fresh oil residue, which would distinguish a stable long-term seep from an actively worsening leak.