2012 SEAT Ibiza 1.4L Petrol · EX62 CYV

The defining mechanical story of this 2012 SEAT Ibiza is one of accumulating front-end wear, with the most recent MOT on 23 May 2026 passing only with advisories that point to progressive deterioration in the steering and suspension geometry. Free play recorded in both front steering and suspension systems is a significant concern, as it typically indicates worn bushes, deteriorated ball joints, or stretched tie-bar linkages, and bilateral free play suggests the wear is systemic rather than a single failed component. The earlier 2024 test recorded a Dangerous failure for a nearside front suspension arm pin or bush likely to become detached, alongside a Major for an offside front wheel bearing rough when rotated, demonstrating that the front suspension and hub assemblies have already been an area of mechanical concern. The 2025 test also flagged light oil misting on the offside rear shock absorber, which is often an early indicator of seal degradation. Taken together, the record shows a vehicle whose front-end suspension, steering, and hub components are showing their age, and the trend does not yet appear resolved. Recorded mileage stands at 88,746 miles across roughly fourteen years, averaging around 6,300 miles annually, which is a broadly typical accumulation for a car of this age. There are no large unexplained gaps in the MOT history between 2021 and 2026, suggesting the vehicle has remained in regular use rather than being laid up for extended periods, and the relatively modest annual mileage means wear is likely to be progressive rather than acute. That said, the 2023 advisory noted slight damage, cracking, or perishing on a rear tyre, and the 2024 failure cited a deep cut on the offside rear tyre exposing ply or cords, which is consistent with tyres ageing on a car that may sit for stretches between uses. The mileage context here supports a usage pattern of moderate, steady driving rather than high-mileage motorway work, but does not exempt the Ibiza from the consumable wear expected at approaching ninety thousand miles. For a prospective buyer, the priority on inspection should be the front suspension and steering assemblies flagged repeatedly in the MOT record. A test drive should focus on detecting any clonks, knocking, or rattling from the front wheels when traversing speed bumps or potholes, as these are classic symptoms of worn anti-roll bar drop links, wishbone bushes, or track rod ends. Steering should be assessed for vagueness, wandering, or a tendency to pull to one side under braking, and the test drive should include firm braking from around forty miles per hour to feel for any judder or vibration through the pedal, which would confirm the rough offside front wheel bearing condition historically flagged. It is also worth listening for any clonking over uneven surfaces that could indicate the suspension arm pin or bush that was previously deemed dangerous has not been properly replaced or has re-deteriorated. With the car jacked or on a ramp, a physical check for perished bushes, leaking shock absorber seals, and any play in the front hubs and steering rack would be highly advisable. The 2024 failure for an insufficient windscreen washer supply and the 2023 failure for a non-functional washer system suggest that washer bottle integrity or pump reliability may be a minor recurring electrical or plumbing issue worth verifying, although this is relatively inexpensive to remedy. The 2024 advisory for a minor exhaust gas leak should be checked visually and audibly for any hissing, ticking, or signs of black soot around joints and the catalytic converter area, as exhaust leaks left unaddressed can lead to emissions failure or catalytic damage. The nearside and offside front tyres were both flagged as worn close to the legal limit and worn on the edges in the most recent test, which at only six thousand miles of annual use may indicate either infrequent rotation, prolonged kerbing, or a tracking issue that should be corrected with a four-wheel alignment alongside replacement tyres. Finally, the parking brake efficiency below requirements recorded in 2023 should be re-verified by applying the handbrake on an incline and confirming the vehicle holds securely without excessive travel in the lever, as rear drum or caliper mechanisms on a car of this age and mileage commonly require adjustment or shoe replacement.