2019 SEAT Ibiza 1.0L Petrol · WM19 VAD

Chronic front-tyre degradation is the dominant mechanical theme in this Ibiza's MOT history, with both nearside and offside front tyres flagged as worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge at every annual test from 2023 onwards, and a pattern of sidewall cuts and perishing emerging in 2025 and 2026. The 2025 test produced three major failures, including a faulty windscreen washer, an airbag warning lamp indicating an SRS fault, and a deep cut in the offside front inner tyre exposing the cords, while the most recent 2026 attempt initially failed for a deep nearside rear tyre cut and a serious fluid leak from the offside front shock absorber before passing the following day with the same pair of front-tyre advisories still noted. Two failures within seven tests, combined with the recurring brake-pad and brake-disc advisories recorded in 2024, indicate that consumable wear on this vehicle is not being addressed ahead of annual inspection. Mileage accumulation on this 2019 Ibiza stands at 61,723 miles over roughly seven years, yielding an average of around 8,800 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a small petrol supermini in the UK fleet. The annual MOT cadence is consistent with continuous use rather than long periods off the road, and there are no gaps suggesting extended lay-ups that would warrant concerns about seized brakes, deteriorated fuel, or degraded tyre sidewalls through static ageing. That said, the steady accumulation still places proportionate wear on suspension components, braking hardware, and tyres, and the 2026 shock absorber fluid leak is consistent with a component reaching the end of its functional life around this mileage band rather than premature failure. A prospective buyer should treat the offside front shock absorber as the highest-priority inspection item. A fluid leak from a damper means the oil seal has failed, and although the unit may still function, damping performance will be compromised, so on a test drive listen for clonking or knocking from the front suspension over bumps, watch for excessive nose dive under braking, and check for uneven front tyre wear across the tread face. The nearside rear tyre should be inspected closely for any remaining sidewall damage or bulges, and all four tyres should be examined for uneven shoulder wear consistent with worn front dampers or alignment issues; budget for a full set of replacements if any are borderline. On the rear brakes, the 2024 advisory for worn pads and pitted or scored rear discs suggests they may now be approaching the point of requiring disc replacement rather than just pad renewal, so on the test drive feel for any vibration or pulsing through the brake pedal under firm pressure, and listen for any grinding or scraping from the rear hubs. The 2025 failure for the supplementary restraint system warning lamp is a separate concern that demands verification before purchase. An SRS fault can range from a simple loose connector under the seat to a genuine airbag module or wiring defect, and it is not something to accept on the basis that the warning lamp has since extinguished. Ask to see evidence of the fault being properly diagnosed and rectified, ideally a garage invoice referencing the specific repair, and on a test drive confirm that no airbag or seatbelt pretensioner warning lamp illuminates on the dashboard at ignition. The 2025 windscreen washer failure should also be confirmed as resolved with a functioning system delivering fluid to both front and rear wipe areas. Finally, given the recurring pattern of front tyres reaching the legal limit every year, it is worth asking when the wheels were last geometry-aligned, as persistent inner or outer edge wear often points to worn suspension bushes or droplinks, both of which are common failure points on the Ibiza platform and would benefit from a physical inspection on a ramp before commitment.