2011 SEAT Leon — MOT failures & pass rate
43,340 MOT tests on the 2011 SEAT Leon are in this dataset, and 77.4% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 22.8%, so the 2011 Leon sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 12.1% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,727 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.8% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 22.4% of the time against 22.7% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.1% | 5,260 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 3,913 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.3% | 3,178 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.2% | 2,689 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 1,608 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 1,409 |
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 | 2,727 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,908 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,700 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 1,694 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,552 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 1,224 |
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 | 35.7% | 15,484 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.2% | 13,091 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.2% | 10,503 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.7% | 4,218 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 4,119 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 3,364 |
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 | 212 | 10.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,755 | 15.6% |
| 60-90k | 11,569 | 20.8% |
| 90-120k | 15,203 | 23.7% |
| 120-150k | 9,012 | 24.3% |
| 150k+ | 4,581 | 24.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 29,723 | 22.7% |
| Petrol | 13,614 | 22.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,420 | 20.4% |
| 2022 | 9,375 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 8,898 | 23.1% |
| 2024 | 8,266 | 23.5% |
| 2025 | 7,381 | 24.0% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Leon
On a 2011 Leon, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (12.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.3% 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 2011 SEAT Leons pass their MOT?
77.4% of the 43,340 2011 SEAT Leon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 SEAT Leon?
Suspension, recorded in 12.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.0%).
Does the 2011 Leon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.4% in the 0-30k band to 24.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 43,340 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.