2018 SEAT Leon 1.6L Diesel · ST60 RAF

With 111,472 miles accumulated over an eight-year life, this SEAT Leon presents a mechanical picture defined primarily by wear on its consumable braking and tyre components rather than any structural or systemic concern. The most recent test on 9 June 2026 returned a clean pass with no advisories, and a near-identical clean result was logged just two months earlier on 17 April 2026, suggesting the vehicle is currently in a stable state of roadworthiness. However, the broader history is not without incident: there are two recorded failures, one of which was categorised as Dangerous for excessively worn front brake pads, and a Major failure for an inoperative dipped headlamp. The advisory record across the four prior tests also reveals a recurring pattern of front tyre wear on the nearside edge, pitted brake discs, and thinning brake pads all round, which together point to consumables working hard in line with the car's high annual mileage. The track record since 2023 has been progressively cleaner, with advisories reducing in scope at each subsequent test, but the underlying theme remains one of sustained mechanical workload on the undercarriage. The usage profile of this Leon is notably intensive for its class and age, averaging roughly 13,934 miles per year, well above the typical private-owner accumulation rate for a vehicle of this vintage. There are no significant gaps in the testing history, with tests recorded annually from February 2022 through to June 2026, indicating the car has been in continuous use rather than laid up. This consistent, high-rate accumulation will have placed ongoing demand on the engine, clutch, gearbox, suspension bushes, wheel bearings, and braking system, and it is consistent with the advisories observed around brake and tyre wear. The mileage progression across the recorded tests appears steady, with no sudden anomalies or concerning drops between test dates that would suggest an odometer discrepancy or extended out-of-use period. For a prospective buyer, the priority areas for inspection should centre on the braking system and front suspension geometry, both of which have been the subject of repeated advisories. The Dangerous failure for front brake pads under 1.5 mm in 2023, combined with subsequent advisories for pitted discs and thinning pads all round, means the discs, calipers, and pad wear sensors should be physically examined for current thickness and any binding or uneven retraction of the caliper pistons. On a test drive, listen for any grinding or squealing under light braking, feel for pedal pulsation or judder that would indicate disc runout, and check for any pull to one side that could point to a seized caliper or uneven pad wear. The nearside front tyre has been flagged on three separate occasions for edge wear, so the front wheel alignment, specifically camber and tracking, should be verified, and any knocking or clonking over uneven surfaces would warrant inspection of the front wishbones, drop links, anti-roll bar bushes, and strut top mounts given the cumulative mileage. The tyre cracking and perishing advisories noted on both rear and offside front tyres in 2024, alongside the nearside front edge wear, suggest a broader check of the sidewalls for any UV degradation or impact damage is warranted, particularly on a high-mileage car that has seen extensive motorway use. The 2022 headlamp failure was recorded as Major rather than Dangerous, but a buyer should still confirm both dipped beams, main beams, and indicators are fully operational, and inspect the headlamp lenses for clouding that may soon warrant restoration. Finally, given the car's annual mileage, it would be prudent to check for oil seepage around the cam chain area, listen for any timing chain rattle on cold start, and verify the condition of the dual-mass flywheel for any rattling or judder on pull-away, as these are known mechanical considerations on high-mileage examples of this platform regardless of what the MOT history alone can demonstrate.