2020 SEAT Leon — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 SEAT Leon passed 89.6% of its 46,309 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.5 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 8.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.4%) and suspension (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 1,114 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.8% in the 0-30k band and 19.3% in the 150k+ band, a 11.5-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.4pp more often than hybrid ones (13.5% vs 9.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 14.8% in 2021 to 12.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.4% | 2,499 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.6% | 1,212 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 1,063 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.0% | 914 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.5% | 676 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 430 |
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 | 1,114 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 886 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 631 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 630 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 617 |
| 6 | Washers | 576 |
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 | 24.1% | 11,136 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.5% | 6,237 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.3% | 5,239 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 2,750 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 950 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 297 |
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 | 20,075 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 21,156 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 3,899 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 781 | 15.8% |
| 120-150k | 236 | 14.0% |
| 150k+ | 161 | 19.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 36,991 | 10.1% |
| Diesel | 5,401 | 13.5% |
| Hybrid | 3,917 | 9.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 54 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 830 | 6.1% |
| 2023 | 15,120 | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 15,066 | 10.2% |
| 2025 | 15,239 | 12.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Leon
On a 2020 Leon, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.4% 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 (2.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.3% 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 2020 SEAT Leons pass their MOT?
89.6% of the 46,309 2020 SEAT Leon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 SEAT Leon?
Tyres, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by suspension (2.6%).
Does the 2020 Leon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 19.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 46,309 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.