2019 SEAT Leon — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 SEAT Leon passed 87.5% of its 89,953 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.6%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.4%) and tyres (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 3,785 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.6% versus 8.2%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.7pp more often than petrol ones (15.6% vs 11.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.4% | 4,863 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.3% | 4,763 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 2,326 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 2,313 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.7% | 1,514 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 541 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 3,785 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,363 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,951 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 1,891 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,426 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,387 |
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 | 25.1% | 22,562 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.8% | 16,034 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.6% | 12,245 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.9% | 6,168 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 1,962 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 563 |
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 | 32,881 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 42,797 | 14.1% |
| 60-90k | 10,580 | 17.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,191 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 729 | 17.4% |
| 150k+ | 773 | 16.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 74,154 | 11.9% |
| Diesel | 15,799 | 15.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,156 | 6.4% |
| 2022 | 22,106 | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 22,171 | 11.5% |
| 2024 | 21,920 | 13.1% |
| 2025 | 22,600 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Leon
On a 2019 Leon, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (5.4% 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.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2019 SEAT Leons pass their MOT?
87.5% of the 89,953 2019 SEAT Leon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 SEAT Leon?
Suspension, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by tyres (5.3%).
Does the 2019 Leon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 16.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 89,953 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.