2018 SEAT Ibiza 1.0L Petrol · LX68 YRP

Tyre deterioration is the defining thread running through this Ibiza's MOT record, with sidewall damage, cuts, cracking, or perishing flagged at every single test from 2021 through to the most recent pass on 5 September 2025. That latest certificate came with the now-familiar advisory for an offside rear tyre showing cracking and perishing, issued just one day after a failure for insufficient reserve travel at the brake lever. The wider picture is not one of a clean record: 2024 produced a dangerous defect in the form of a damaged offside front wheel hub spigot mounting with the hub nut missing, compromising wheel security, alongside perished dust covers on both front outer track rod end ball joints, a slight oil leak, and lipped front brake discs. The 2022 test also recorded a headlamp aim failure corrected the same day. Overall the trend shows recurring steering and wheel-related defects rather than a settled, trouble-free history. Recorded mileage stands at 34,939 miles over roughly eight years, averaging around 4,367 miles annually, which is low for the age. Tests have fallen consistently each September with no gaps, so the odometer record appears continuous. This modest usage pattern is consistent with the repeated tyre perishing and cracking advisories, since rubber degrades with age and exposure regardless of distance covered, and a car covering short annual distances will often wear tyres out through deterioration rather than tread loss. Low mileage also means the brake disc lipping and the 2025 brake lever reserve travel issue cannot be attributed to heavy use, and the steering joint dust cover failures at only six years old point to age-related rubber degradation rather than mileage wear. A prospective buyer should prioritise the steering and wheel assembly given the 2024 dangerous defect. On a test drive, listen for any knocking or clicking from the front over uneven surfaces and check for play or vagueness in the steering, which could indicate worn track rod ends following the dust cover failures, since a split gaiter allows grit to accelerate joint wear. Confirm the offside front wheel hub and nut were properly rectified after the dangerous failure by checking for any vibration through the steering wheel at speed or pulsing under braking. The lipped front brake discs and the brake lever reserve travel failure warrant a firm pedal check for judder, pulling to one side, or a spongy feel, and the handbrake should be tested on an incline to confirm adequate holding. Finally, budget for tyres: with sidewall damage or perishing noted on at least one tyre at every test since 2021, all four corners should be inspected closely for cracking between the tread blocks and on the sidewalls, and any tyre showing the deep outer sidewall cuts recorded in 2023 should be replaced regardless of remaining tread. The slight oil leak noted in 2024 should be traced at the engine and checked for any progression, looking for fresh residue on the undertray or drips where the car is parked. Verification that each failed item was properly repaired, rather than merely retested, would be a sensible condition of purchase.