2018 SEAT Leon 1.2L Petrol · L121 AAA

The vehicle presents a fluctuating maintenance profile that has transitioned from a clean record into a period of recurring consumable wear. While the January 2026 test at 67,306 miles resulted in a pass, the tester flagged both front tyres as being worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edges. This follows a pattern of tyre-related issues seen in the January 2025 test and the significant failure in January 2024. The maintenance trend suggests a reactive rather than proactive approach to servicing, where components are replaced only when they reach the point of failure or legal non-compliance. The mileage accumulation appears consistent with typical UK usage for an eight-year-old vehicle. The car has covered approximately 8,413 miles per year, moving from 12,981 miles in February 2021 to 67,306 miles by January 2026. The data shows a steady increase in annual distance, particularly between January 2024 and January 2025, where the vehicle covered nearly 15,000 miles. This steady usage pattern avoids the risks associated with long periods of inactivity but places predictable demand on the braking and suspension systems. A prospective buyer should focus their physical inspection on the suspension and braking components. The January 2024 failure highlighted both front and rear shock absorbers with light oil misting, and while these passed in subsequent tests, the presence of leaking seals often precedes total component failure. The brake history shows a progression from failed pads in early 2024 to pitted or scored rear discs in January 2025. These findings indicate that the braking system has undergone significant wear and may require a full inspection of the calipers and discs to ensure they are not binding or excessively corroded. The recurring tyre advisories across multiple years suggest that wheel alignment or suspension geometry may be contributing to uneven tread wear. The January 2026 advisory regarding tyres worn on the edges warrants a check of the tracking and suspension bushes. Although the vehicle is currently roadworthy, the history of failing on tyres with exposed cords and thin brake pads implies that the next service interval will likely involve several significant consumable replacements.