2007 Seat Leon — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 33,733 MOT tests analysed for the 2007 Seat Leon, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 74.3% was above the average for small family cars of a similar age (73.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 25.8% in the 150k+ group versus 15.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 4,567 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.1% | 4,430 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.6% | 3,234 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 2,592 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 2,140 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.1% | 2,066 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 2,752 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,891 |
| 3 | Joints | 1,462 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,434 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 1,271 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,257 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 34.2% | 11,536 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.3% | 10,235 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.5% | 8,921 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.8% | 6,354 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.4% | 4,179 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.3% | 4,141 |
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 | 90 | 15.6% |
| 30-60k | 874 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 4,551 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 10,299 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 10,356 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 7,547 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 21,081 | 25.7% |
| Petrol | 12,652 | 25.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,563 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 8,019 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 6,791 | 26.0% |
| 2024 | 5,285 | 26.0% |
| 2025 | 4,075 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Leon
Before buying a 2007 Seat Leon, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 13.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.1% 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 (9.6% 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 2007 Seat Leons pass their MOT?
74.3% of the 33,733 2007 Seat Leon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Seat Leon?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by suspension (13.1%).
Does the 2007 Leon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 0-30k band to 25.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 33,733 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.