2014 SEAT Ibiza 1.2L Petrol · ND14 BKZ

The most recent MOT, conducted on 27 November 2025 at 83,095 miles, resulted in a pass, but the record reveals a maintenance trend that has been inconsistent rather than consistently improving. The vehicle failed the previous day, 26 November 2025, at the same recorded mileage, presenting a cluster of serious defects. These included an excessively worn nearside front suspension arm ball joint, a serious fluid leak from the offside rear shock absorber, and critically worn offside rear brake pads. The subsequent pass indicates these specific items were rectified immediately before re-test, yet the tester still flagged worn and pitted front brake discs and a binding offside rear service brake as minor advisories. The persistence of these brake-related advisories, alongside a slightly damaged nearside front tyre noted in both the failed and passed tests, suggests underlying wear patterns have not been fully addressed. The mileage profile indicates typical annual use of approximately 6,925 miles over the vehicle's twelve-year lifespan. A notable gap exists in the record between the clean pass on 23 November 2024 at 76,890 miles and the failed test on 23 November 2023 at 70,778 miles, representing a 6,112-mile increase over that year. The recorded mileage then jumped from 70,786 miles on 28 November 2023 to 83,095 miles by the November 2025 tests, an increase of 12,309 miles in roughly two years. This represents a significant acceleration in usage, nearly doubling the previous annual average, which places greater stress on consumable components and the chassis. Prospective buyers must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the front suspension and steering geometry. The history of a worn ball joint, a leaking shock absorber, and play in the anti-roll bar linkage points to potential cumulative wear in the front-end bushes and mountings. The offside rear shock absorber was leaking seriously less than a year ago; its replacement should be verified, and the condition of the corresponding nearside unit checked for matching wear. The rear suspension should be inspected for corrosion on the dampers and their top mounts, a common failure point on this model. The braking system demands close scrutiny. The recurring advisory for worn and pitted front brake discs, combined with the recent failure for thin rear pads and a binding rear caliper, indicates a system that has been run hard and potentially poorly maintained. A buyer should check the thickness and condition of all pads and discs, paying particular attention to the offside rear caliper slide pins and pistons for signs of sticking. The advisories for a binding brake and a damaged nearside front tyre remain live concerns from the most recent pass, and both require immediate professional assessment before the vehicle is considered fully roadworthy.