Cupra Leon Vz3 MOT pass rate & common failures
603 MOT tests on the Cupra Leon Vz3 (2020–2023) give it an 85.7% pass rate. That is 5.8 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 8.5%. Its most common failure areas are tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 10.4% of all tests — 8.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, brake pads and pins and bushes — shock absorbers alone was recorded 9 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.5% versus 12.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Leon Vz3 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 444 | 84.9% | 15.1% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 141 | 89.4% | 10.6% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 10.4% | 63 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.2% | 13 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.5% | 9 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 6 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 6 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.8% | 5 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 3 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 9 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 8 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 7 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 5 |
| 5 | Washers | 4 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 3 |
| 7 | Attachment | 3 |
| 8 | Headlamp aim | 3 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.9% | 156 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.6% | 58 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.0% | 48 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.2% | 25 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 18 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.0% | 12 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 333 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 235 | 16.2% |
| 60-90k | 34 | 23.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 368 | 10.6% |
| Hybrid | 235 | 20.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 248 | 16.1% |
| 2025 | 349 | 12.9% |
What to check before buying a Cupra Leon Vz3
- Tyres (10.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (2.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (1.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Cupra Leon Vz3?
85.7% of the 603 Cupra Leon Vz3 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 14.3% fail rate, across model years 2020–2023.
What does the Cupra Leon Vz3 most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 10.4% of tests, then suspension (2.2%).
How much does mileage affect Leon Vz3 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 23.5% for 60-90k, a 11.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 603 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.