2015 Skoda Yeti 1.2L Petrol · OV65 CYL

A defining feature of this Yeti's MOT record is the recurring pair of advisories for light oil misting on both front shock absorbers, logged consistently at every test from 2021 through 2025 before the March 2026 examination returned a clean pass with no defects recorded. Bilateral front strut seepage persisting over four consecutive years points to gradual seal deterioration on the original MacPherson units, and although the level has remained within the advisory threshold, the unchanged pattern across multiple tests suggests the deterioration is progressive rather than static. The September 2022 test additionally captured front and rear tyre advisories covering perishing, edge wear, and a nearside front tyre worn close to the legal limit, indicating a period of uneven tread consumption alongside age-related sidewall degradation. With one completely clean pass in 2026 alongside three clean passes in earlier years, the overall roadworthiness trajectory is stable at the headline pass level, but the shock absorber advisories represent the only meaningful mechanical thread running through the file. At 27,408 miles over an 11-year life, this Yeti has covered only around 2,490 miles annually, which is substantially below the average for a car of this age and points to either very light commuting use or significant periods of inactivity. The MOT cycle itself reveals no testing gaps, with annual examinations recorded in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, confirming the vehicle has remained on the road consistently and is therefore unlikely to have suffered from extended standing time that would promote issues such as brake seizure or 12V battery degradation. The relatively smooth year-on-year mileage progression implied by the unbroken annual testing pattern, combined with low overall accumulation, means wear-sensitive consumables such as brake pads, discs, clutches, and drivetrain components have likely experienced less thermal and mechanical cycling than higher-mileage equivalents, though low use can also accelerate corrosion on underbody components and promote flat spots in tyres that have stood for long periods between short journeys. For a prospective buyer, the priority mechanical concern is the condition of the front suspension, specifically the struts, top mounts, and ancillary components such as the front coil springs, drop links, and anti-roll bar bushes. Given the four-year run of oil misting advisories, a test drive should include firm cornering over speed humps and undulating tarmac to listen for any clonking or knocking from the strut assemblies, and the body should be watched for continued bouncing after pressing firmly on each front wing and releasing. Steering response should remain tight without vibration through the rim, and any uneven tyre wear on the nearside front, as flagged in 2022, would warrant a close check of camber and suspension geometry, particularly as the original dampers age. Given the low annual mileage, brake discs and pads warrant a physical inspection regardless of MOT status, as lightly used discs are prone to corrosion pitting and uneven pad transfer, which can produce pedal judder or squeal under light braking that a standing roadworthiness test would not capture. Finally, with the September 2022 advisories also noting cracked and perished tyres, any remaining original 2015-era rubber should be examined for sidewall crazing and replaced as a matter of course given the age of the car, irrespective of remaining tread.