2021 SEAT Leon — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 24,761 MOT tests, the 2021 SEAT Leon recorded a 90.7% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 8.3% of the time, so this is 1.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests against 1.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and shock absorbers — tread depth alone was recorded 481 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.6% once past 120-150k — 3.0× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.2% of the time against 9.6% for hybrid.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.8% of tests failed in 2023 against 9.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 1,431 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 461 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.8% | 457 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.7% | 418 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.9% | 229 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 146 |
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 | 481 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 398 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 314 |
| 4 | Washers | 304 |
| 5 | Wipers | 188 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 154 |
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% | 6,226 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.7% | 2,641 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.0% | 1,477 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 1,447 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 546 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 116 |
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 | 11,567 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 11,059 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,700 | 13.6% |
| 90-120k | 362 | 15.5% |
| 120-150k | 62 | 22.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 16,387 | 9.2% |
| Hybrid | 7,990 | 9.6% |
| Diesel | 384 | 10.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 412 | 5.8% |
| 2024 | 12,154 | 9.0% |
| 2025 | 12,162 | 9.8% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Leon
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.8% 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 (1.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2021 SEAT Leons pass their MOT?
90.7% of the 24,761 2021 SEAT Leon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 SEAT Leon?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.9%).
Does the 2021 Leon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 22.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,761 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.