2016 SEAT Ibiza 1.2L Petrol · FP66 WPL

A pattern of binding front and rear brake calipers, deteriorating suspension bushes, and edge-worn tyres runs through the MOT history of this 2016 SEAT Ibiza, suggesting that several key wear items have been neglected or left to develop into failures before being addressed. The most recent test on 15 November 2025 passed, but it carried a cluster of advisories including a perished offside front wishbone rear bush, low front brake pads, a perished offside front link boot, an edge-worn nearside rear tyre, and a nearside rear shock absorber damper issue. Across the recorded tests, suspension arm pins or bushes have been flagged on the offside front repeatedly, appearing on the same corner in 2022 and again at the start of 2025, which indicates a chronic wear point rather than an isolated finding. The single failure on 25 November 2022 was particularly significant, with major defects recorded for excessive binding on both the offside front and nearside rear service brakes, a non-functional offside front dipped beam headlamp, and an ineffective front wiper. Taken in isolation, each item is addressable, but the repetition of caliper binding complaints and suspension bush advisories does point to ongoing deterioration in the braking and front suspension assemblies. Mileage on this Ibiza stands at 90,121 miles across a ten-year span, which equates to an annual accumulation of around 9,000 miles. That figure is broadly typical for a vehicle of its age, neither suggesting prolonged periods off the road nor indicating an unusually high wear rate that would skew component life. The MOT test pattern is consistent with regular use, with tests recorded annually from 2020 through to late 2025, the only exception being the absence of a 2023 entry, which is likely explained by the November 2022 retest and the subsequent November 2025 sequence rather than any extended lay-up. The mileage context therefore supports the view that the advisories and the 2022 caliper failures are the result of normal wear accumulation rather than unusual operating conditions, and any prospective buyer should plan for ongoing maintenance of the suspension and braking systems. For a prospective buyer, the priority areas to inspect on a physical walkaround are the front suspension components, particularly the offside front wishbone and its rear bush, as well as the anti-roll bar link boot. On a test drive, listen for clonks or rattles from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, and feel for vagueness or knocking through the steering when turning at parking speeds, both of which would suggest the perished bush has now developed into excessive play. The brake pedal should be firm and progressive; any judder under braking, a dragging sensation after release, or a pulling effect to one side under moderate stops would be consistent with binding calipers of the type flagged in late 2022 and could indicate that the issue has returned or that the rectification was incomplete. The nearside rear shock absorber advisory should be checked by pushing down firmly on each corner of the offside rear of the vehicle and releasing, comparing the rebound to the opposite side, with continued bouncing or a clunk indicating a worn damper. The tyres on this Ibiza show edge wear on both front wheels across multiple tests, including entries from November 2020 and January 2024, which on a front-wheel-drive supercar of this configuration often points to worn suspension geometry or incorrect alignment rather than simple tyre age. A buyer should check the current tread depth across the full width of each tyre, not just the central rib, and ask whether a four-wheel alignment has been carried out recently. The headlamp and wiper failures recorded in 2022 are minor electrical items and likely one-off, but a thorough check of all exterior lighting, washer jets, and wiper effectiveness is sensible. Finally, the record does not contain evidence of structural corrosion or major mechanical failures, and the advisories that do appear are predominantly consumable and wear-related, but the cumulative pattern of brake caliper binding and suspension bush wear should be reflected in any pre-purchase offer.