2022 SEAT Leon — MOT failures & pass rate
4,080 MOT tests on the 2022 SEAT Leon are in this dataset, and 91.3% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 7.9%, so the 2022 Leon sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 5.7% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and shock absorbers — tread depth alone was recorded 64 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.0% in the 0-30k band and 14.8% in the 90-120k band, a 7.8-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 8.3% of the time against 8.6% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 232 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 72 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.6% | 65 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.3% | 51 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 27 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 26 |
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 | 64 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 60 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 49 |
| 4 | Washers | 36 |
| 5 | Wipers | 33 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 22 |
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 | 27.4% | 1,117 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.2% | 496 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.5% | 225 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.0% | 163 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 80 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 19 |
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 | 2,301 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,431 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 281 | 12.8% |
| 90-120k | 54 | 14.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,945 | 8.6% |
| Hybrid | 851 | 8.3% |
| Diesel | 284 | 11.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 249 | 8.4% |
| 2025 | 3,823 | 8.8% |
What to check before buying a 2022 Leon
On a 2022 Leon, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.6% 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 2022 SEAT Leons pass their MOT?
91.3% of the 4,080 2022 SEAT Leon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 SEAT Leon?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.8%).
Does the 2022 Leon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 14.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,080 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.