2012 Skoda Citigo 1.0L Petrol · DN62 DXF

The 2012 SKODA CITIGO presents a concerning pattern of recurrent tyre damage and critical safety warnings across its MOT history, with the most recent 2025-10-16 test confirming ongoing issues rather than resolving them. While the 2025 pass noted worn suspension arm pins and minor tyre concerns, this was followed by a 2024-10-02 failure that included dangerously low tyre tread depths on both front wheels, compounded by persistent rear tyre cracking and a hazardous nearside front tyre condition falling below the mandatory 1.6mm minimum. The 2023-10-23 failure introduced a major windshield wiper failure alongside the recurring tyre damage, creating a picture of a vehicle that accumulates problems at each service interval despite occasional passing results. Overall, the record shows a deteriorating mechanical health trajectory punctuated by intermittent clean tests, with the latest assessment still listing active advisories that require attention before the car can be considered roadworthy. The vehicle's recorded mileage of 36,321 miles on a 2012 model year chassis represents approximately 2,594 miles per annum, which is unusually low for a fourteen-year-old passenger car and suggests extended periods of inactivity between service intervals. This reduced annualisation contrasts sharply with typical usage patterns and may indicate that critical systems have been under stress during brief periods of operation rather than consistent driving. The gap between the 2021 and 2022 MOTs shows no increase in mileage, yet the 2023 and 2024 tests reveal escalating tyre deterioration and a complete loss of front tyre tread protection, implying that the low mileage figure likely reflects infrequent use rather than genuine low wear. Such irregularity makes it difficult to assess whether the current mechanical condition stems from actual operational abuse or from the cumulative effect of long stand-down periods where minor faults can compound without regular driving exposure. The repeated advisories regarding suspension components—specifically worn nearside front and rear suspension arm pins and bushes—indicate potential structural fatigue in the subframe and swingarm assemblies. On a test drive, the buyer should listen for any clunking or knocking over bumps, particularly when traversing uneven surfaces, as worn arm pins often manifest as audible joint play or metallic rattling under load. Additionally, inspect the suspension bushings visually and by feeling for excess play when moving the wheel laterally; worn bushes will allow the suspension to shift prematurely, leading to increased wear on control arms and potentially affecting alignment. Given the documented history of suspension-related advisories spanning multiple years, addressing these components promptly would prevent progressive degradation of the subframe and ensure proper handling characteristics. The persistent tyre damage across all recorded tests, ranging from slight surface cracking to critically low tread depths below the 1.6mm legal threshold, signals that the tyres have experienced either physical impact, edge damage from potholes, or general abrasion from poor road surfaces. During a test drive, pay close attention to any vibration transmitted through the steering wheel when encountering bumps, as compromised tyres lose their ability to absorb shocks effectively, increasing the likelihood of harsh ride quality and potential impact damage to adjacent components. The windshield wiper failure reported in the 2023-10-23 test indicates that the wipers may not clear water adequately, which could reduce visibility in adverse weather and create a hazard on wet roads. Before committing, verify that the tyres meet the current legal minimum tread depth and that the wiper blades are fully functional and properly aligned to maintain adequate visibility throughout the journey.