2019 SEAT Leon MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 77.7% of SEAT Leons first used in 2019 passed their MOT first time, against 83.5% for all cars first used in 2019. Across 58,440 Leon first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were suspension, tyres and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen).

This page analyses first MOT tests for SEAT Leons first used in 2019 (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
77.7%
of 19,223 first tests; all cars first used in 2019: 83.5%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
58,440
first tests, 2023–2025; 19,223 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
42.7%
of 19,223 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
49,000
middle half: 37,500–63,500 miles; all cars first used in 2019: 44,000

How the 2019 SEAT Leon MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Leons first used in 2019 against all cars first used in 2019 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Leon figure was 5.8 points lower.

2019 LeonAll cars first used in 2019
70%80%90%100%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2019, test year 2021: 89.2%All cars first used in 2019, test year 2022: 87.8%All cars first used in 2019, test year 2023: 86.2%All cars first used in 2019, test year 2024: 84.9%All cars first used in 2019, test year 2025: 83.5%2019 Leon, test year 2021: 90.1%2019 Leon, test year 2022: 86.4%2019 Leon, test year 2023: 84.2%2019 Leon, test year 2024: 82.2%2019 Leon, test year 2025: 77.7%83.5%77.7%
View this chart as a table
Test year2019 LeonAll cars first used 2019Leon first tests
202190.1%89.2%1,085
202286.4%87.8%20,103
202384.2%86.2%19,748
202482.2%84.9%19,469
202577.7%83.5%19,223

Common 2019 SEAT Leon MOT failures

Share of the 10,870 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%.

Suspension38.5%
Tyres33.2%
Visibility16.5%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment16.5%
Brakes12.1%
Noise, emissions and leaks4.0%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Coil spring: fractured or broken26.9%2,922
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm12.0%1,307
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak9.3%1,015
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.6%931
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively8.2%895

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
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leakShock absorber replacement£300£200–£500

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

What to check on a 2019 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. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  3. Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.

Common 2019 SEAT Leon MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2019 Leons, as a share of all 58,440 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil17.4%10,161
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge14.5%8,487
Brake pads: wearing thin10.9%6,372
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing10.6%6,168
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened5.2%3,026

Questions about the 2019 SEAT Leon MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2019 SEAT Leon?

In 2025, 77.7% of Leons first used in 2019 passed their MOT first time, against 83.5% for all cars first used in 2019. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2019 Leon most often fail its MOT on?

Suspension (in 38.5% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (33.2%) and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (16.5%). The single most common item was “Coil spring: fractured or broken” (26.9%).

How often does a 2019 SEAT Leon fail its MOT?

In 2025, 22.3% of first tests on Leons first used in 2019 did not pass first time: 19.0% failed, and a further 3.3% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 10,870 of 58,440 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2019 SEAT Leon MOT advisories?

“Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil” (on 17.4% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (14.5%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (10.9%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (10.6%) and “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (5.2%).

Is a 2019 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 90.1% in 2021 to 77.7% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2019

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

2019 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2019 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2019 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2019 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT statistics

How the 2019 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. “2019 Leon” means a SEAT Leon whose date of first use falls in 2019 (68, 19 and 69 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 2019, 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.