2018 SEAT Ateca 1.6L Diesel · PY68 BKF

The 2018 SEAT Ateca presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent MOT on 10 December 2025 at 109,787 miles passed, but the tester flagged four separate advisories. Both nearside and offside rear brake pads were recorded as very low, indicating the previous owner deferred a straightforward brake service. A worn nearside front lower suspension arm rear bush and a light oil misting on the nearside front shock absorber also appeared. These are not new catastrophic failures, but they do represent a cluster of wear items surfacing simultaneously, suggesting the car entered a phase of deferred upkeep in late 2025. The mileage accumulation tells a consistent story. Between 2021 and 2025, the car covered roughly 55,000 miles in four years, averaging around 13,700 miles annually. The jump from 72,229 miles in December 2022 to 95,912 miles by November 2024 is particularly steep, at over 23,000 miles in two years. This is high annual use for a family SUV, and it explains the accelerated wear on consumables like brake pads and tyres. The record is complete with no gaps, which is a positive sign, but the defect density has increased in the most recent test compared to the clean passes recorded between 2021 and 2024. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension and braking system. The worn nearside front lower arm rear bush needs checking for play, and the misting shock absorber should be assessed for whether the oil loss has progressed to a full damp. Rear brake pads were very low at the last test, so expect these to need replacement, and inspect the rear discs for scoring or lipping given the high mileage use. The corroded central rear exhaust heat shield clips flagged in November 2023 at 88,167 miles may still be loose or rattling. Lift the car and check for any fresh corrosion on the exhaust mounting points. Tyre condition also warrants attention. In November 2023, three of four tyres were worn close to or at the legal limit, including the offside rear at 2.4mm. With another 21,000 miles covered since then, the current tyres are likely near or past replacement age. Budget for a full set if the tread depths are marginal. Overall, the car is roadworthy on paper, but the combination of high mileage, a worn front suspension bush, a suspect shock absorber, and overdue rear brake pads points to a vehicle that has been driven hard and maintained reactively rather than proactively.