2002 · 22 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2002 SEAT Leon MOT pass rate and common faults

520 MOT tests in 2024. 61.0% passed first time, compared with 58.1% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time61.0%
Failed or needed repairs39.0%
Typical mileage at test122,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 520 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt5.6%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.2%
  3. Position lamp: not working2.7%
  4. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.5%
  5. Service brake performance: excessively binding2.3%
  6. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases2.3%
  7. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.3%
    18 marked dangerous
  8. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.3%
  9. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.3%
  10. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.3%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics28.3%
  2. Brakes17.3%
  3. Suspension15.8%
  4. Body & chassis14.8%
  5. Emissions & leaks14.8%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.8%
  7. Steering5.4%
  8. Tyres4.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.4%
  2. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened18.1%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded18.1%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine17.1%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened16.5%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2002 SEAT Leon?

In 2024, 61.0% of 2002 SEAT Leon cars passed their MOT first time, across 520 tests. The average for all 22-year-old cars was 58.1%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2002 SEAT Leon?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; position lamp: not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2002 SEAT Leon reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).