2014 SEAT Leon — MOT failures & pass rate
109,384 MOT tests on the 2014 SEAT Leon are in this dataset, and 85.4% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (17.5% fail rate), the 2014 Leon comes out 2.9pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.7%) and suspension (4.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 3,560 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.8% in the 0-30k band and 18.0% in the 150k+ band, a 12.2-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 13.4% fail against 15.3% for diesel, a 1.9-point gap across 109,384 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 6,217 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.4% | 4,798 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.2% | 4,606 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 4,537 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 3,113 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 2,282 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 3,560 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 3,088 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 3,003 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 2,970 |
| 5 | Washers | 2,075 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 2,009 |
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 | 26.4% | 28,881 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.4% | 26,666 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.6% | 23,586 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.9% | 9,687 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 3,536 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 3,390 |
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 | 2,288 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 22,568 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 41,318 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 27,886 | 17.0% |
| 120-150k | 10,862 | 18.1% |
| 150k+ | 4,451 | 18.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 66,747 | 15.3% |
| Petrol | 42,637 | 13.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,119 | 12.5% |
| 2022 | 22,164 | 13.8% |
| 2023 | 22,046 | 14.6% |
| 2024 | 21,664 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 21,391 | 16.3% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Leon
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.7% 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 (4.4% 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 (4.2% 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 2014 SEAT Leons pass their MOT?
85.4% of the 109,384 2014 SEAT Leon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 SEAT Leon?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by suspension (4.4%).
Does the 2014 Leon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 18.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 109,384 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.