2013 SEAT Ibiza 2.0L Diesel · DA13 FEF

A recurring mechanical theme emerges from the MOT history of this 2013 SEAT Ibiza, centred on the front suspension geometry and driveline integrity on the nearside. The most recent test on 22 December 2025 was passed with no advisories recorded, and the February 2025 re-test was also clean, suggesting that the rectification work carried out following the earlier failure has held up effectively over the intervening months. However, the failure dated 5 February 2025 is significant because it flagged four Major defects in a single visit, including an excessively worn front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint, a worn rear suspension arm bush, a split nearside front CV boot with a missing inner clip, and a rear brake dust plate insecurity. The fact that these items then passed at re-test a day later indicates they were addressed promptly, but the cluster of suspension and driveline wear in one localised area points to either a heavy kerb impact, component fatigue from age, or a combination of both. The earlier advisories from December 2023, which noted the same nearside front suspension arm rear bush as worn, confirm that this was a developing condition rather than a sudden failure, and the offside rear brake fluctuating and binding advisories from the same period suggest the braking maintenance has not been entirely consistent over the life of the vehicle. The recorded mileage of 126,020 miles across roughly thirteen years equates to an average annual accumulation of around 9,700 miles, which sits squarely within typical parameters for a car of this age and class. There are no extended gaps in the testing record that would imply prolonged periods off the road, and the relatively even pattern of annual tests from 2023 through 2025 suggests continuous use rather than seasonal lay-ups. For a vehicle of this mileage, the mechanical implications are well understood: brake discs, pads, calliper sliding pins, suspension bushes, coil springs, and exhaust mountings will have been subjected to substantial cumulative wear, and consumable items such as cambelt components, clutch, and water pump on a 1.2 or 1.4 petrol Ibiza of this era are likely to have been replaced at least once. The mileage itself does not raise any red flags, but the wear patterns visible in the test history confirm that this is a working higher-mileage example rather than a low-use vehicle, and prospective buyers should approach it with that context in mind. When inspecting this Ibiza, particular attention should be directed at the nearside front suspension, which has been the focal point of the recent advisories and repair work. Listen for any clonking or knocking from the front end when traversing speed bumps or uneven surfaces, and pay specific attention to the anti-roll bar drop links and the rear bush of the nearside front lower suspension arm, as these are the components previously flagged. Place a hand on each front wheel arch while an assistant rocks the steering left and right with the engine off; any excessive vertical play, clunking, or looseness felt through the arch would indicate that the recent suspension repairs may have deteriorated or that adjacent components such as the front strut top mounts or track rod ends have begun to wear. On the nearside front driveshaft, crouch low and inspect the CV boot for any fresh splits, perished rubber, or leaking grease, as the inner boot clip was noted as missing at the February 2025 test, and confirm that the joint itself rotates smoothly without any clicking on full-lock turning at low speed. The braking system deserves a careful dynamic assessment, given the offside rear fluctuating and binding advisories from late 2023 and the nearside rear dust plate issue from early 2025. On a test drive, apply the brakes firmly from around 40 mph and feel for any judder through the pedal, which would indicate warped rear discs, and listen for any scraping or grinding that suggests pads have worn close to the metal. With the vehicle stationary, check that the handbrake holds effectively on a steep incline and that the rear wheels rotate freely by hand when jacked, as the earlier binding advisory could indicate a sticky rear caliper sliding mechanism or a partially seized cable. Finally, carry out a slow-speed walkaround in silence to listen for any exhaust drone, tapping from the engine bay, or clonks from the rear silencer heat shield area that was previously flagged as loose, and verify that the rear registration plate remains legible despite the deterioration advisory noted in 2023.