2010 SEAT Leon MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 61.0% of SEAT Leons first used in 2010 passed their MOT first time, against 59.3% for all cars first used in 2010. Across 16,991 Leon first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were suspension, lamps and electrical equipment and brakes.

This page analyses first MOT tests for SEAT Leons first used in 2010 (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
61.0%
of 5,012 first tests; all cars first used in 2010: 59.3%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
16,991
first tests, 2023–2025; 5,012 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
20.8%
of 5,012 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
121,500
middle half: 98,500–145,000 miles; all cars first used in 2010: 100,000

How the 2010 SEAT Leon MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Leons first used in 2010 against all cars first used in 2010 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Leon figure was 1.7 points higher.

2010 LeonAll cars first used in 2010
50%60%70%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2010, test year 2021: 62.6%All cars first used in 2010, test year 2022: 61.7%All cars first used in 2010, test year 2023: 60.5%All cars first used in 2010, test year 2024: 59.6%All cars first used in 2010, test year 2025: 59.3%2010 Leon, test year 2021: 62.9%2010 Leon, test year 2022: 61.4%2010 Leon, test year 2023: 62.9%2010 Leon, test year 2024: 61.1%2010 Leon, test year 2025: 61%61%59.3%
View this chart as a table
Test year2010 LeonAll cars first used 2010Leon first tests
202162.9%62.6%6,980
202261.4%61.7%6,695
202362.9%60.5%6,322
202461.1%59.6%5,657
202561.0%59.3%5,012

Common 2010 SEAT Leon MOT failures

Share of the 6,502 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%.

Suspension48.8%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment33.6%
Brakes31.2%
Tyres20.7%
Body, chassis, structure15.9%
Noise, emissions and leaks14.8%
Visibility12.5%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems2.6%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Coil spring: fractured or broken17.0%1,106
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm10.0%648
Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt9.0%585
Parking brake efficiency (sp): efficiency below requirements8.8%575
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect7.5%489

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 2010 SEAT Leon before buying

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

  1. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  2. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  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 2010 SEAT Leon MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2010 Leons, as a share of all 16,991 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge20.7%3,515
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened12.2%2,075
Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil11.0%1,876
Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened10.7%1,823
Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened9.0%1,536

Questions about the 2010 SEAT Leon MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2010 SEAT Leon?

In 2025, 61.0% of Leons first used in 2010 passed their MOT first time, against 59.3% for all cars first used in 2010. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2010 Leon most often fail its MOT on?

Suspension (in 48.8% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (33.6%) and brakes (31.2%). The single most common item was “Coil spring: fractured or broken” (17.0%).

How often does a 2010 SEAT Leon fail its MOT?

In 2025, 39.0% of first tests on Leons first used in 2010 did not pass first time: 32.3% failed, and a further 6.7% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 6,502 of 16,991 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2010 SEAT Leon MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 20.7% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (12.2%), “Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil” (11.0%), “Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened” (10.7%) and “Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened” (9.0%).

Is a 2010 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 62.9% in 2021 to 61.0% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2010

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

2010 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2010 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2010 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2010 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2010 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics

How the 2010 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. “2010 Leon” means a SEAT Leon whose date of first use falls in 2010 (59, 10 and 60 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 2010, 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.