2015 SEAT Ibiza 1.2L Petrol · FD15 UTN

The mechanical fingerprint of this 2015 SEAT Ibiza is defined primarily by its front-end lighting and front suspension components, with two failures on the record pointing to those specific areas. On 27 November 2025 the vehicle failed on an offside headlamp not functioning on dipped beam and an inoperative registration plate lamp, before being presented again the same day and passing with no defects recorded, suggesting straightforward electrical repairs were carried out between tests. Earlier, on 6 December 2022, the car failed outright on an offside front suspension arm pin or bush exhibiting excessive wear, a Major category defect under the suspension integrity rules. This is a component-level failure rather than a minor item, and it warrants particular attention because suspension arm bush wear of that severity can compromise wheel alignment, tyre wear patterns, and steering precision. The intervening tests from 2021 through 2024 returned clean passes aside from advisory items, indicating the vehicle has been roadworthy overall, but the combination of a Major suspension defect and recurrent advisories on consumable wear points to a chassis that has seen typical front-axle stress for a car of this age and mileage. With 73,436 miles recorded over approximately 11 years, the Ibiza has covered around 6,676 miles per year on average, which sits within the expected band for a small hatchback of this vintage used as regular transport rather than a high-mileage commuter or a low-use second vehicle. There are no extended gaps in the testing record that would suggest long-term standing, and no sudden mileage jumps that would indicate a change of usage pattern between tests. This kind of steady, moderate accumulation tends to produce even wear across the major mechanical systems rather than the dry-corrosion, seized-caliper, and perishing-seal problems that often accompany cars left dormant for long periods. Mechanically, this usage profile means consumables such as brake pads, discs, tyres, and suspension bushes have all been worked consistently, which fits the advisory pattern observed on the record, but it also means drivetrain components have accumulated real-world stress without the benefit of low-mileage preservation. The most relevant component history for a prospective buyer centres on the front suspension and braking system. The Major failure in 2022 on the offside front suspension arm pin or bush should prompt close inspection of the entire front axle: check for knocking or clonking noises from the front end when traversing speed bumps or rough tarmac, listen for creaks on full-lock steering manoeuvres, and examine the inner and outer edges of the front tyres for uneven or feathered wear that would indicate the bushes have worn further since replacement. The advisories in 2023 flagged both front tyres as worn close to the legal limit on inner and outer edges, which can be a secondary consequence of suspension geometry disturbance rather than purely a tyre age issue, so any new tyres should be monitored for abnormal wear over the first few thousand miles. Brake-related advisories cluster around 2021, when both front and rear pads were noted as wearing thin, alongside front disc wear and rear disc pitting. Given that no further brake advisories appear on subsequent tests, the pads and discs were almost certainly renewed at that point, but on a test drive the buyer should still feel for any binding or pulling under light braking, listen for grinding or scraping from the caliper area, and verify that the brake pedal is firm without excessive travel. The lighting defects from November 2025 are minor and easily remedied, typically a failed bulb or connector issue, but they are worth verifying directly by walking around the vehicle with the ignition on to confirm all lamps, including the offside dipped beam and registration plate illumination, are functional. Finally, with the car now approaching twelve years of age, a general underbody inspection for surface corrosion, fluid leaks from the engine and gearbox, and the condition of the exhaust mounting rubbers would be prudent to confirm that the roadworthiness pattern shown on the MOT record is consistent with the physical state of the car today.