2012 SEAT Ibiza 1.6L Diesel · SY62 UOG

The 2012 SEAT Ibiza currently holds a valid MOT issued on 15 June 2026 at 92,306 miles, but the maintenance trend is decidedly mixed rather than reassuring. The most recent test required a retest after a failure for a headlamp aim fault and a defective nearside rear reflector, both of which were rectified within the same day. While the car ultimately passed, the pattern across the last two years reveals recurring defects that suggest reactive rather than proactive upkeep. The nearside rear reflector has appeared as an advisory or failure item in every single test since at least June 2024, indicating a persistent issue that previous owners have repeatedly failed to permanently repair. Front brake discs have been flagged as worn, pitted, or scored in three consecutive tests from June 2024 through June 2025, showing a gradual deterioration that was eventually addressed before the 2026 test. The mileage progression tells a fairly consistent story. Between the June 2024 test at 82,385 miles and the June 2025 test at 87,227 miles, the car covered 4,842 miles in twelve months. From June 2025 to the June 2026 test, it added 5,079 miles, bringing the annual average to roughly 6,593 miles per year across its fourteen-year life. This is unremarkable for a small hatchback and does not raise concerns about long periods of inactivity or suspiciously low recorded mileage. There are no alarming gaps in the MOT record that would suggest the car sat unused for extended stretches. A buyer should pay close attention to the front suspension and braking components during any in-person inspection. The June 2025 failure flagged slight play in the nearside front suspension arm ball joint, a wear item that degrades gradually and may have worsened since the car passed its most recent test. Uneven inner-edge tyre wear on both front tyres was noted in June 2024, which typically points to worn tracking or tracking misalignment, and the same axle produced two separate tyre-related failures in 2025 including a dangerous exposed-cord condition on the offside. This suggests tyre condition and wheel alignment have not been monitored consistently. The spare tyre was flagged as defective with low pressure in both June 2026 tests, a minor but telling indicator that basic consumable checks have been neglected. The recurring nearside rear reflector defect, while not a structural concern, reinforces the impression that small faults are tolerated rather than fixed. A thorough test drive should assess braking feel for pulsation consistent with disc wear, and a physical inspection of the front suspension bushes, ball joints, and inner tyre edges is strongly advised before purchase.