SEAT Leon MOT pass rates & common failures

Every completed first-attempt MOT on a SEAT Leon in Great Britain in 2025 — 183,714 tests. Figures cover every Leon first-tested in 2025, all trims grouped. How the Leon ages, what it fails on, and what mileage is normal, computed directly from the official DVSA record of every test.

Pass rate 2025
75.8%
3.5 points above the class-4 average (72.3%); unadjusted for age — the age-matched comparison is below
Tests analysed
183,714
first tests, 2025
Arrived with a dangerous fault
7.5%
of Leon first tests; national 7.3%
Typical mileage at 10 years
86,250
middle half: 68,750–108,750 miles (2,500-mile-band midpoints)

How many SEAT Leon cars are still on the road?

At the end of 2025, DVLA's register held 212,670 SEAT Leon cars that were taxed or on SORN: 197,211 taxed and 15,459 on SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification — kept, but declared off the road by the keeper). The MOT figures above count tests; these count cars, across the whole United Kingdom, cars only. SEAT Leon vans, where they exist, are counted by DVLA as goods vehicles and are not in these figures.

Still taxed, end of 2025
197,211
92.7% of the 212,670 Leon cars taxed or on SORN; 202 model variants grouped
On SORN, end of 2025
15,459
declared off the road by their keepers — 7.3% of that total

How the numbers are moving

The number of taxed Leon cars peaked at 218,965 at the end of 2021 and has since fallen by 21,754 (9.9%) to 197,211 at the end of 2025. Cars on SORN went from 3,416 at the end of 2014 to 15,459 at the end of 2025, up 352.5%. A car leaves the taxed count when it is scrapped, exported or declared off the road; the year-end counts do not say which.

Taxed Leon cars, year by year

Cars of this model taxed and on the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025.

050k100k150k200k250k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Taxed Leon cars, year 2014: 148kTaxed Leon cars, year 2015: 162kTaxed Leon cars, year 2016: 173kTaxed Leon cars, year 2017: 185kTaxed Leon cars, year 2018: 199kTaxed Leon cars, year 2019: 210kTaxed Leon cars, year 2020: 214kTaxed Leon cars, year 2021: 219kTaxed Leon cars, year 2022: 215kTaxed Leon cars, year 2023: 209kTaxed Leon cars, year 2024: 203kTaxed Leon cars, year 2025: 197k197k
View this chart as a table
YearTaxed Leon cars
2014148,215
2015161,796
2016173,286
2017184,653
2018198,533
2019210,305
2020213,833
2021218,965
2022215,475
2023209,213
2024203,146
2025197,211

Leon cars on SORN, year by year

Cars of this model declared off the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025. Its own scale — SORN counts are a fraction of the taxed count.

05k10k15k20k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Leon cars on SORN, year 2014: 3kLeon cars on SORN, year 2015: 4kLeon cars on SORN, year 2016: 5kLeon cars on SORN, year 2017: 6kLeon cars on SORN, year 2018: 8kLeon cars on SORN, year 2019: 9kLeon cars on SORN, year 2020: 11kLeon cars on SORN, year 2021: 11kLeon cars on SORN, year 2022: 12kLeon cars on SORN, year 2023: 13kLeon cars on SORN, year 2024: 14kLeon cars on SORN, year 2025: 15k15k
View this chart as a table
YearLeon cars on SORN
20143,416
20154,244
20165,155
20176,454
20187,857
20199,150
202010,997
202111,108
202211,667
202312,952
202414,100
202515,459

Which model years survive

Taxed Leon cars at the end of 2025 by year of manufacture, and each year's share of the 197,211 taxed in all. Every build year holding at least 1% has its own row; the rest share one. 1 taxed Leon car has no recorded year of manufacture and is not in the table, so the rows add up to 197,210. A build year's count depends on how many were sold that year as well as how many have lasted.

Year of manufacture Taxed, end of 2025Share of taxed Leon cars
20252,6201.3%
20242,5641.3%
20223,3861.7%
202110,8305.5%
202013,4336.8%
201918,9519.6%
201820,98610.6%
201718,5119.4%
201616,4358.3%
201518,1279.2%
201419,83510.1%
201312,6586.4%
20129,4894.8%
20116,6383.4%
20105,4722.8%
20094,0992.1%
20083,4201.7%
20072,9271.5%
All other build years (eight years, each under 1%)6,8293.5%

Population source: Department for Transport / DVLA vehicle licensing statistics, table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026; counts of the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, United Kingdom, cars only, excluding cars recorded with no model name. SortedCars groups DVLA's model name LEON under this model. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, DVLA or the Department for Transport.

How the Leon ages

First-time pass rate by vehicle age, Leon vs all cars, 2025.

SEAT LeonAll cars
50%60%70%80%90%100%3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)SEAT Leon, vehicle age 3: 88.7%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 4: 87.2%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 5: 83.9%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 6: 77.7%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 7: 78.5%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 8: 78.5%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 9: 79.7%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 10: 78.6%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 11: 76.6%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 12: 71.4%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 13: 65.5%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 14: 63.5%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 15: 61%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 16: 59.8%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 17: 60%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 18: 59.7%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 19: 55.4%SEAT Leon, vehicle age 20: 60.4%All cars, vehicle age 3: 88.5%All cars, vehicle age 4: 87.2%All cars, vehicle age 5: 86%All cars, vehicle age 6: 83.5%All cars, vehicle age 7: 80.9%All cars, vehicle age 8: 78.2%All cars, vehicle age 9: 74.9%All cars, vehicle age 10: 71.9%All cars, vehicle age 11: 68.6%All cars, vehicle age 12: 65.8%All cars, vehicle age 13: 63.5%All cars, vehicle age 14: 61.2%All cars, vehicle age 15: 59.3%All cars, vehicle age 16: 58.3%All cars, vehicle age 17: 57.2%All cars, vehicle age 18: 57.4%All cars, vehicle age 19: 57%All cars, vehicle age 20: 57.6%SEAT Leon 60.4%All cars 57.6%
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Leon testsLeon pass rateAll cars
33,52588.7%88.5%
411,12087.2%87.2%
513,54783.9%86.0%
619,22377.7%83.5%
720,94978.5%80.9%
818,03578.5%78.2%
915,60279.7%74.9%
1016,73978.6%71.9%
1118,11776.6%68.6%
1211,05471.4%65.8%
138,07665.5%63.5%
145,78563.5%61.2%
155,01261.0%59.3%
164,03159.8%58.3%
173,69360.0%57.2%
183,20959.7%57.4%
192,04755.4%57.0%
201,25960.4%57.6%

Better or worse than the average car?

The Leon's pass rate minus the all-cars pass rate at each age, in percentage points. Bars above zero: the Leon beats the average car of that age. Below zero: it trails.

Leon aheadLeon behind
-10-5+0+5+10Age 3: +0.2 points vs the average car3Age 4: +0.0 points vs the average carAge 5: -2.1 points vs the average car5Age 6: -5.8 points vs the average carAge 7: -2.4 points vs the average car7Age 8: +0.3 points vs the average carAge 9: +4.8 points vs the average car9Age 10: +6.7 points vs the average carAge 11: +8.0 points vs the average car11Age 12: +5.6 points vs the average carAge 13: +2.0 points vs the average car13Age 14: +2.3 points vs the average carAge 15: +1.7 points vs the average car15Age 16: +1.5 points vs the average carAge 17: +2.8 points vs the average car17Age 18: +2.3 points vs the average carAge 19: -1.6 points vs the average car19Age 20: +2.8 points vs the average car20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Gap (points)
3+0.2
4+0.0
5-2.1
6-5.8
7-2.4
8+0.3
9+4.8
10+6.7
11+8.0
12+5.6
13+2.0
14+2.3
15+1.7
16+1.5
17+2.8
18+2.3
19-1.6
20+2.8

The Leon fleet on the road, by age

How many took a first MOT in 2025 at each age — the shape of the Leon fleet still in use.

07k15k22k30kAge 3: 3k3Age 4: 11kAge 5: 13k5Age 6: 19kAge 7: 20k7Age 8: 18kAge 9: 15k9Age 10: 16kAge 11: 18k11Age 12: 11kAge 13: 8k13Age 14: 5kAge 15: 5k15Age 16: 4kAge 17: 3k17Age 18: 3kAge 19: 2k19Age 20: 1k20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)First tests
33,525
411,120
513,547
619,223
720,949
818,035
915,602
1016,739
1118,117
1211,054
138,076
145,785
155,012
164,031
173,693
183,209
192,047
201,259

What a Leon fails on

Where the failure items land when a Leon fails or needs a fix at test, 2025. Use it as a pre-purchase checklist: these are the areas to look at first.

Suspension25.2%
Tyres17.7%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment17.4%
Brakes15.6%
Visibility8.6%
Noise, emissions and leaks6.3%
Body, chassis, structure4.8%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems1.2%

Share of all failure items, 2025 — the 8 biggest categories shown (96.9% of the items); smaller categories are not listed.

The advisories to watch

Where testers most often write "keep an eye on this" for a Leon, 2025 — the faults in the post.

Suspension: 32.1% of advisories32.1%Tyres: 30.9% of advisories30.9%Brakes: 23.2% of advisories23.2%Non-component advisories: 4.6% of advisoriesNoise, emissions and leaks: 2.9% of advisoriesIdentification of the vehicle: 2.1% of advisories
SuspensionTyresBrakesNon-component advisoriesNoise, emissions and leaksIdentification of the vehicle
View this chart as a table
CategoryShare of advisories
Suspension32.1%
Tyres30.9%
Brakes23.2%
Non-component advisories4.6%
Noise, emissions and leaks2.9%
Identification of the vehicle2.1%

Petrol, diesel or hybrid Leon?

First-time pass rate for the three most-tested Leon fuel types, 2025, against the all-cars average. Fleet ages differ by fuel — newer fleets help the electrified bars.

50%60%70%80%90%100%all cars 72.3%Petrol: 78.2% of 107,716 tests78.2%Petrol107,716 testsDiesel: 71.1% of 70,404 tests71.1%Diesel70,404 testsHybrid electric: 88.0% of 5,588 tests88.0%Hybrid5,588 tests
View this chart as a table
FuelTestsPass rate
Petrol107,71678.2%
Diesel70,40471.1%
Hybrid electric5,58888.0%

What mileage is normal for a Leon?

Mileage recorded at test by vehicle age, 2025. The line is the typical (median) Leon; the shaded band holds the middle half. A car far outside the band, in either direction, is worth questions the recorded history can answer.

Typical Leon (median)
0k25k50k75k100k125k150k175k3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)Age 3: typical 26,250 miles (middle half 18,750–41,250)Age 4: typical 36,250 miles (middle half 26,250–46,250)Age 5: typical 41,250 miles (middle half 31,250–53,750)Age 6: typical 48,750 miles (middle half 38,750–63,750)Age 7: typical 58,750 miles (middle half 46,250–73,750)Age 8: typical 68,750 miles (middle half 53,750–86,250)Age 9: typical 76,250 miles (middle half 58,750–96,250)Age 10: typical 86,250 miles (middle half 68,750–108,750)Age 11: typical 96,250 miles (middle half 76,250–118,750)Age 12: typical 103,750 miles (middle half 81,250–126,250)Age 13: typical 111,250 miles (middle half 88,750–133,750)Age 14: typical 113,750 miles (middle half 93,750–138,750)Age 15: typical 121,250 miles (middle half 98,750–146,250)Age 16: typical 121,250 miles (middle half 96,250–146,250)Age 17: typical 123,750 miles (middle half 101,250–146,250)Age 18: typical 128,750 miles (middle half 103,750–153,750)Age 19: typical 128,750 miles (middle half 101,250–153,750)Age 20: typical 128,750 miles (middle half 103,750–156,250)128k mi

Mileage values are midpoints of 2,500-mile bands.

View this chart as a table
Age (years)Lower quarterTypical (median)Upper quarter
318,75026,25041,250
426,25036,25046,250
531,25041,25053,750
638,75048,75063,750
746,25058,75073,750
853,75068,75086,250
958,75076,25096,250
1068,75086,250108,750
1176,25096,250118,750
1281,250103,750126,250
1388,750111,250133,750
1493,750113,750138,750
1598,750121,250146,250
1696,250121,250146,250
17101,250123,750146,250
18103,750128,750153,750
19101,250128,750153,750
20103,750128,750156,250

What fails at each age

The Leon's failure mix by age band, 2025 — each band's top categories at their true share of that band's failure items; the pale remainder is everything else. How the mix shifts with age is the point of the chart.

TyresSuspensionBrakesVisibilityLamps, reflectors and electrical equipmentNoise, emissions and leaksBody, chassis, structureEverything else
View this chart as a table
Age bandCategoryShare of the band's failure items
3-5 yrsTyres42.1%
3-5 yrsSuspension22.3%
3-5 yrsBrakes10.6%
3-5 yrsVisibility8.1%
3-5 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment7.4%
3-5 yrsEverything else9.5%
6-9 yrsSuspension32.7%
6-9 yrsTyres26.9%
6-9 yrsBrakes15.3%
6-9 yrsVisibility9.6%
6-9 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment7.7%
6-9 yrsEverything else7.8%
10-13 yrsSuspension28.3%
10-13 yrsBrakes19.7%
10-13 yrsTyres18.4%
10-13 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment13.2%
10-13 yrsNoise, emissions and leaks7.1%
10-13 yrsEverything else13.3%
14+ yrsSuspension26.0%
14+ yrsBrakes18.1%
14+ yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment17.5%
14+ yrsBody, chassis, structure10.2%
14+ yrsTyres9.5%
14+ yrsEverything else18.7%

More vehicles we've checked

How these figures are computed. Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from the DVSA anonymised MOT results dataset (every MOT test in Great Britain — 2025 for single-year figures; trend figures state their span, currently 2023–2025). Where a figure comes from a sample or uses banded values (mileage is banded to 2,500 miles), the page says so beside the figure. Test class 4 only, first tests only — retests are excluded. Class 4 is the car MOT class and also covers car-derived vans, pickups and motorhomes tested to the same standard; where this page says "cars" it means class 4. Pass rate = passes ÷ (passes + failures + pass-after-rectification): a vehicle that failed and was fixed during the visit counts as a fail. Pass rates describe fleets, not individual machines: they reflect how cars were driven, maintained and used as well as how they were built, and beyond recorded mileage none of that is in the data. A well-kept example of a model with a weak average can still pass; a neglected example of a strong one can still fail. No figure is shown for any group with fewer than 500 tests. Alias spellings of a make in the DVSA file are counted under one make name, and all trims and variants of a model are grouped under one model name, using SortedCars' grouping tables. The taxed and SORN counts on this page are the one exception: they are not computed from MOT records but taken from the Department for Transport's vehicle licensing statistics (DfT/DVLA table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0), which count the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, UK-wide, cars only. They describe a model as a whole, grouped under SortedCars' model names, and say nothing about any one car. “Dangerous” is DVSA's statutory defect category (in force since May 2018): a defect posing an immediate risk to road safety — driving the vehicle before repair is an offence. What these figures are for. These statistics are general information about groups of vehicles. They are not advice, a valuation or a recommendation to buy, avoid or price any particular vehicle, and no decision about one car should rest on them alone — check the car itself and its own records. We take care over the calculations, but we cannot guarantee they are complete, current or free of error, and we accept no liability for loss arising from reliance on them. This does not limit any liability that cannot lawfully be limited — see our Terms & Conditions. If you believe any figure on this page is inaccurate, contact us. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the DVSA or DVLA. DVSA publishes the raw test records; the statistics on this page are SortedCars' own calculations from them. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.