2021 SEAT Ibiza 1.0L Petrol · SJ71 KXC

The vehicle’s roadworthiness record shows a concerning trend of deferred maintenance, with the most recent MOT (September 2025) revealing a near-miss failure on the nearside rear tyre tread—just three miles before the full test. The preceding September 2024 failure was far more severe, with structural tyre damage (bulging) on the offside rear, worn front tyres nearing illegality, and multiple brake system advisories, including thin pads and scored discs. While the 2025 test passed without defects, the repeated tyre and brake issues suggest a pattern of neglect rather than isolated problems. The central rear seatbelt failure in 2024, though not a pass/fail reason, indicates a lack of attention to minor but critical components. The vehicle’s current status is technically compliant, but the underlying history raises questions about how other high-wear items—such as suspension bushes, coil springs, or exhaust components—have been managed. The mileage progression reveals unusual patterns for a vehicle of this age. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the odometer jumped from 55,796 to 78,277 miles—a rapid accumulation of 22,481 miles in just under a year, averaging nearly 19,000 miles annually. This is significantly higher than the UK average for a five-year-old car and suggests either intensive use or inconsistent servicing. The gap between tests is standard (one year), but the abrupt mileage spike between failures implies the vehicle was driven aggressively or stored poorly between MOTs. There are no earlier MOT records to compare, so it’s impossible to confirm whether this trend has always been present. A buyer should prioritise an independent inspection of the tyres, brakes, and suspension. The 2024 bulging rear tyre indicates potential internal damage, so all four should be examined for hidden separation or uneven wear. Brake discs and pads, which were advisories in 2024, may now be worse—check for excessive thickness variation, glazing, or uneven pad consumption. The suspension should be assessed for worn or leaking components, particularly the rear bushes and coil springs, as high mileage accelerates degradation. Corrosion around wheel arches, subframes, and exhaust mounts should also be scrutinised, as rust can compromise structural integrity. Given the history, a full service history—especially for fluid changes (brakes, clutch, power steering)—would be essential to verify whether critical components have been properly maintained.