2001 SEAT Leon — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,261 MOT tests, the 2001 SEAT Leon recorded a 73.7% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.9% of the time, so this is 1.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests against 10.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and tread depth — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 183 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.2% in the 30-60k band and 27.0% in the 150k+ band, a 14.8-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.5% in 2021 to 24.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 342 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.6% | 239 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.5% | 215 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 187 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 175 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.5% | 124 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 183 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 136 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 113 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 106 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 104 |
| 6 | Joints | 94 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 38.0% | 858 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.9% | 834 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.1% | 591 |
| 4 | Other defects | 18.8% | 426 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.3% | 413 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.5% | 374 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 131 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 359 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 515 | 31.5% |
| 120-150k | 597 | 26.0% |
| 150k+ | 637 | 27.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,784 | 25.7% |
| Diesel | 477 | 28.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 771 | 28.5% |
| 2022 | 556 | 26.1% |
| 2023 | 401 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 297 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 236 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Leon
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.6% 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 (9.5% 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
How many 2001 SEAT Leons pass their MOT?
73.7% of the 2,261 2001 SEAT Leon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 SEAT Leon?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by suspension (10.6%).
Does the 2001 Leon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 30-60k band to 27.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,261 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.