2006 SEAT Leon MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 55.4% of SEAT Leons first used in 2006 passed their MOT first time, against 57.0% for all cars first used in 2006. Across 8,257 Leon first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and brakes.

This page analyses first MOT tests for SEAT Leons first used in 2006 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
55.4%
of 2,047 first tests; all cars first used in 2006: 57.0%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
8,257
first tests, 2023–2025; 2,047 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
17.0%
of 2,047 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
128,000
middle half: 102,500–154,000 miles; all cars first used in 2006: 106,500

How the 2006 SEAT Leon MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Leons first used in 2006 against all cars first used in 2006 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Leon figure was in line with the all-cars figure.

2006 LeonAll cars first used in 2006
50%60%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2006, test year 2021: 55.5%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2022: 56%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2023: 56.2%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2024: 56.1%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2025: 57%2006 Leon, test year 2021: 54.9%2006 Leon, test year 2022: 55%2006 Leon, test year 2023: 53.5%2006 Leon, test year 2024: 56.1%2006 Leon, test year 2025: 55.4%57%55.4%
View this chart as a table
Test year2006 LeonAll cars first used 2006Leon first tests
202154.9%55.5%5,387
202255.0%56.0%4,448
202353.5%56.2%3,533
202456.1%56.1%2,677
202555.4%57.0%2,047

Common 2006 SEAT Leon MOT failures

Share of the 3,731 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment40.8%
Suspension38.0%
Brakes31.0%
Body, chassis, structure30.2%
Noise, emissions and leaks22.9%
Tyres18.9%
Visibility16.1%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems10.7%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt16.7%624
Coil spring: fractured or broken10.3%385
Parking brake efficiency (sp): efficiency below requirements9.6%359
Position lamp: not working9.1%341
SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault9.1%339

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Leon in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2006 SEAT Leon before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.

Common 2006 SEAT Leon MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2006 Leons, as a share of all 8,257 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge22.3%1,841
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened13.8%1,142
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive12.1%997
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing9.4%777
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement9.3%768

Questions about the 2006 SEAT Leon MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2006 SEAT Leon?

In 2025, 55.4% of Leons first used in 2006 passed their MOT first time, against 57.0% for all cars first used in 2006. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2006 Leon most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 40.8% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (38.0%) and brakes (31.0%). The single most common item was “Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” (16.7%).

How often does a 2006 SEAT Leon fail its MOT?

In 2025, 44.6% of first tests on Leons first used in 2006 did not pass first time: 35.9% failed, and a further 8.7% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 3,731 of 8,257 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2006 SEAT Leon MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 22.3% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (13.8%), “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (12.1%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (9.4%) and “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (9.3%).

Is a 2006 SEAT Leon reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 54.9% in 2021 to 55.4% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2006

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2006 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2006 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2006 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2006 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2006 MINI Hatch MOT statistics

How the 2006 SEAT Leon MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2006 Leon” means a SEAT Leon whose date of first use falls in 2006 (55, 06 and 56 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2006, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.