2015 SEAT Ibiza 1.2L Petrol · DC65 DVR

The latest DVSA MOT test for this 2015 SEAT Ibiza was conducted on 22 December 2025 and resulted in a Pass, although the same date carries a prior Fail entry showing that remedial work was carried out to secure the pass. The failure items are notable: all four road wheel fixing studs/bolts were reported as missing on at least one side, alongside an excessively worn offside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint. These are significant safety-related items, and a buyer must be satisfied that correct replacement wheel fasteners were fitted to the correct torque specification and that the anti-roll bar drop link has been renewed with a quality component. The advisory tyre items on the same test, with the front nearside tyre at the legal limit and the rear nearside measured at 2.4mm, suggest that tyres were borderline acceptable and will require replacement imminently regardless of whether they were changed at the test. Looking at the wider history, the trend over the past three years has shown intermittent but recurring issues around the front suspension and braking components, with advisories in 2021 for front shock absorber misting and worn front suspension arm rear bushes, a 2023 fail for leaking front shock absorbers and worn rear brake pads, and the most recent advisory and failure items relating again to suspension linkage wear and tyres. Overall the maintenance pattern is patchy rather than worsening, but the recurrence of front end and under-bonnet issues means any prospective buyer should treat the car as one requiring ongoing inspection rather than a turn-key proposition. Against an age of approximately 11 years and an odometer reading of 88,673 miles, the annual mileage averages around 8,061 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a small hatchback of this vintage and suggests the vehicle has been used consistently rather than left standing for prolonged periods. The MOT history itself does, however, show some irregularity in testing intervals, with no recorded tests between late 2021 and May 2023, and again a notable gap between May 2023 and October 2024 before more regular annual testing resumed. Such gaps do not necessarily indicate mechanical neglect but they do mean that wear items such as brake fluid, coolant, and the timing belt or cam belt service interval should be verified independently from the MOT records, as these are not assessed at test. Given the average mileage and the recurring advisories around oil leaks from the sump and oil filter housing noted in 2023, it is also worth confirming when the engine oil and filter were last serviced, as small seepages from the sump nut and filter area are common on higher-mileage SEAT Ibiza units and can worsen if sealing washers are not renewed at each oil change. In terms of specific inspection guidance for a test drive, the buyer should pay close attention to the front suspension, listening and feeling for any clonks, knocks or shudder through the steering wheel when traversing speed bumps, pothole edges or uneven surfaces, as the 2025 failure item regarding the anti-roll bar linkage ball joint and the 2021 advisory relating to the front suspension arm rear bushes both point to known wear areas on this model. Steering response should remain tight and well-damped, without excess play at the straight-ahead or any vagueness that could indicate worn front strut top mounts or bush deterioration. The braking system also warrants careful assessment; with rear brake pads previously recorded as worn down to the wear sensor and front brake discs pitted and scored, the buyer should test the brakes from speed, checking for any juddering through the pedal or vibration through the steering wheel that would suggest disc warping, and listening for any scraping or grinding that could indicate pads running thin again. The pedal feel should be firm and progressive, without sponginess that would suggest air in the system or perished brake fluid, and a visual check behind the wheels should confirm reasonable pad material and disc surface condition without deep lipping at the disc edge. Beyond the chassis and brakes, a prospective buyer of an eleven-year-old SEAT Ibiza with this mileage should carry out a series of straightforward age and calendar-based checks that MOT testing does not fully cover. Tyre sidewalls should be inspected carefully for perishing or cracking caused by UV exposure, as tyres older than five or six years can harden and crack even if the tread depth appears legal, and the production date on each tyre sidewall should be checked. The 12 volt battery should be tested for state of health, particularly if the vehicle has been used for short urban journeys, and the cooling system should be examined for any evidence of leaks or corrosion at the radiator, expansion tank, and hose joints, with confirmation that the coolant has been renewed in line with manufacturer schedule. Brake fluid is hygroscopic and degrades over time regardless of mileage, so the age of the fluid should be established and a replacement considered if it has not been changed within the past two years. The exhaust system, given the 2023 advisory noting rear silencer corrosion, should be physically inspected for rust bubbling, mounting failures, or blowing joints, and the undertrays refitted at the 2023 test should be removed if necessary for a full visual inspection of the engine and gearbox lower areas for any oil seepage. Finally, the service book and invoiced history should be reviewed to confirm that the cambelt and water pump have been replaced in accordance with the manufacturer's time or mileage interval, as failure of this component on a higher-mileage Ibiza would result in significant engine damage.