2002 SEAT Leon — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,592 MOT tests, the 2002 SEAT Leon recorded a 74.5% pass rate. That is 2.6 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.6% of all tests — 5.0 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 322 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.3% versus 21.9%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (27.3% vs 25.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.6% in 2021 to 24.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 716 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.6% | 485 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.8% | 403 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 371 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.0% | 366 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.2% | 237 |
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 | 322 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 293 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 224 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 214 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 207 |
| 6 | Joints | 194 |
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 | 38.6% | 1,774 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.2% | 1,662 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.9% | 1,279 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.5% | 987 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.4% | 798 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 649 |
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 | 32 | 21.9% |
| 30-60k | 305 | 17.7% |
| 60-90k | 611 | 24.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,212 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,247 | 27.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,168 | 26.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,578 | 25.0% |
| Diesel | 1,014 | 27.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,450 | 26.6% |
| 2022 | 1,148 | 25.5% |
| 2023 | 815 | 23.8% |
| 2024 | 661 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 518 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Leon
On a 2002 Leon, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.6% 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 (8.8% 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 2002 SEAT Leons pass their MOT?
74.5% of the 4,592 2002 SEAT Leon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 SEAT Leon?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by suspension (10.6%).
Does the 2002 Leon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.9% in the 0-30k band to 26.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,592 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.