SEAT Leon Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems
Free SEAT Leon vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.
- 80% MOT pass rate
- 5,134 Leons checked
- 20.0% had outstanding finance
SEAT Leon reg check
Full SEAT Leon history check from £3.99
The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full SEAT Leon car check:
Of the 35 SEAT Leon vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 20.0% had outstanding finance recorded and 11.4% an insurance write-off record.
- Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
- Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
- Police stolen marker
- High risk register
- Previous keepers and last change
- Plate and colour changes
- Scrapped, imported or exported
- Mileage anomaly check
£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.
Free SEAT Leon MOT History and Mileage Data
What the MOT records of 5,002 SEAT Leon vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.
- 80%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
- 8,400typical miles a year
- 3.3%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
- 52,485MOT tests analysed
- 2010–2017built (middle half)
- 50%diesel; 47% petrol; 2% hybrid electric (clean); 1% heavy oil
SEAT Leon common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories
The defects MOT testers record most often on the SEAT Leon, as a share of all its MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once): the Leon's known weak points. Check these on the car you're viewing, or on your own before its next MOT.
Top 20 SEAT Leon MOT failures
Reasons the car failed its MOT.
- Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.5%
- Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.7%
- Coil spring fractured or broken1.5%
- Headlamp aim too low1.2%
- Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak1.2%
- Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively1.1%
- Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid1.1%
- Position lamp not working1.1%
- Tyre has ply or cords exposed0.9%
- Headlamp aim too high0.9%
Show all 20
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.8%
- Stop lamp not working0.8%
- Parking brake efficiency below requirements0.7%
- Registration plate lamp not working0.7%
- Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.7%
- Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect0.6%
- Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt0.6%
- Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt0.6%
- Headlamp not working on dipped beam0.5%
- Service brake excessively binding0.5%
Top 20 SEAT Leon MOT advisories
Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge9.0%
- Brake pad wearing thin7.4%
- Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened5.7%
- Shock absorbers has light misting of oil4.9%
- Tyre worn close to the legal limit4.2%
- Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing2.9%
- Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect2.5%
- Oil leak, but not excessive2.5%
- Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.2%
- Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread1.7%
Show all 20
- Coil spring corroded1.6%
- Nail in tyre1.5%
- Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated1.4%
- Service brake binding but not excessively1.4%
- Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources1.3%
- Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play1.2%
- Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.2%
- Shock absorber has a light misting of oil1.1%
- Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened1.0%
- Brake disc worn, but not excessively0.9%
- Lights and indicators: 37% of failed tests
- Tyres: 28% of failed tests
- Suspension: 28% of failed tests
- Brakes: 20% of failed tests
- Windscreen and wipers: 15% of failed tests
- Tyres advisory: 26% of tests
- Brakes advisory: 20% of tests
- Suspension advisory: 18% of tests
Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 5,002 SEAT Leon vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp since March 2023 (52,485 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check, and our free mileage check flags a lower reading. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
SEAT Leon versions
Every SEAT Leon version checked on CarCheckUp counts on this page, grouped by the word after "Leon" in the DVLA record. Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.
| Version | Vehicles | MOT pass rate | Top failure area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leon (no version recorded) | 4,659 | 79% | Lights and indicators |
Leon FR
|
203 | – | – |
Leon SE
|
89 | – | – |
Leon Xcellence
|
19 | – | – |
Leon S
|
14 | – | – |
Key history checks before buying a used SEAT Leon
All of these are in every full report, with 150+ more data points.
Outstanding finance
A SEAT on hire purchase, PCP or a logbook loan may still belong to the lender. Buying it can lead to a dispute over who owns it. Outstanding finance check
Insurance write-off (Cat S, N, C, D)
Shows if an insurer declared the car a total loss. Cat S and N cars can return to the road, but the record lowers the value and can affect insurance. Write-off check
Police stolen marker
Checks the Police National Computer. A stolen car can be taken back, leaving you without the car or your money. Stolen car check
High risk register
Shows if a finance company, insurer or the police has registered an interest in the Leon. Find out why before you buy.
Mileage anomaly check & MOT history
Free: every MOT mileage reading compared for drops, with advisories and failures. Free mileage check
Previous keepers & plate changes
How many keepers the car has had and when, plus number plate changes that can separate a car from its history. Previous owners check
More free and full vehicle checks for a SEAT Leon
Full SEAT Leon car check from £3.99 a report
Finance, write-off, stolen, keepers, plate changes and 150+ data points on the SEAT Leon you're looking at. The MOT history and mileage come free.
Check a Leon by reg → See a sample reportSEAT Leon MOT questions
How do I check a used SEAT Leon for outstanding finance or a write-off?
Run a full car history check on its registration. Of the 35 SEAT Leon vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 20.0% had outstanding finance recorded and 11.4% an insurance write-off record. The report also shows stolen markers, keepers, plate and colour changes.
Is a SEAT Leon car check free?
The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any SEAT Leon are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.
What is the most common MOT failure on the SEAT Leon?
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm: found at 2.5% of the SEAT Leon MOT tests we analysed. By area, lights and indicators items appear in 37% of failed tests.
What is the SEAT Leon MOT pass rate?
80% of 52,485 MOT tests on 5,002 SEAT Leon vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.
What are the common problems with the SEAT Leon?
Going by its MOT records, the SEAT Leon's most common failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.5% of tests); brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick (1.7% of tests); coil spring fractured or broken (1.5% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.
What is the most common MOT advisory on the SEAT Leon?
Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge: noted at 9.0% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.
How many miles a year is a SEAT Leon typically driven?
About 8,400 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 3.3% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.