2016 SEAT Ibiza 1.2L Petrol · MA05 DMA

Suspension wear and tyre structural integrity represent the primary mechanical concerns for this vehicle, following a pattern of recurring advisories and a significant dangerous failure in early 2025. While the most recent test on 06 March 2026 resulted in a pass, the record shows a continuing trend of degradation in the damping and suspension components. Specifically, the shock absorbers have progressed from light oil misting in 2025 to a recorded worn bush on the nearside front upper shock absorber in the latest inspection. This follows previous advisories regarding worn front lower suspension arm bushes and perished rear bushes, indicating a cumulative wear pattern across the vehicle's chassis linkages. The vehicle has covered 48,857 miles over its ten-year lifespan, which equates to an average annual accumulation of approximately 4,886 miles. This is a low-mileage usage profile for a 2016 model. While lower mileage generally implies less wear on the drivetrain, the MOT history reveals that this specific usage pattern has coincided with issues related to component perishing. The repeated advisories for cracking, perishing, and structural tearing in the tyres between 2021 and 2025 are characteristic of vehicles that undergo infrequent use or long periods of stationary standing, where rubber compounds can degrade due to environmental exposure rather than tread wear. A prospective buyer should pay close attention to the suspension system during a test drive to assess the impact of the recorded bush wear and shock absorber issues. Listen for any knocking, clunking, or hollow thudding sounds when driving over uneven surfaces or speed bumps, which could indicate excessive play in the suspension arms or worn bushes. The reported oil misting on the shock absorbers and the worn upper bush should be monitored for any signs of active leaking or significant damping loss, which would manifest as excessive vehicle body roll or a bouncing sensation when encountering undulations in the road surface. Braking components also require immediate scrutiny following the latest advisory regarding thin rear brake pads. During the test drive, the braking performance should be evaluated for any pulling to one side or pedal judder, which could indicate uneven pad wear or disc issues. Furthermore, given the history of dangerous failures related to tyre structure and separation, a physical inspection of all four tyres is essential to ensure there is no evidence of sidewall cracking, bulging, or internal structural failure, particularly as the vehicle has previously failed on multiple occasions due to tyre tears.