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Seat Leon SE TDI Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Seat Leon SE TDI car check

Is the Seat Leon SE TDI reliable? We analysed 9,715 real MOT tests across 1,674 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Seat Leon SE TDI? Enter the reg for a free check:

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Data last updated: · Based on 9,715 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.2%
Typical Mileage
96,137mi
Annual Mileage
9,520mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Seat Leon SE TDI is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Seat Leon SE TDI.

Seat Leon SE TDI Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Seat Leon SE TDI. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Seat Leon SE TDI MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Seat Leon SE TDI to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

85%
2022

Seat Leon SE TDI Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Seat Leon SE TDI models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 1
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 1
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1

Seat Leon SE TDI Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Seat Leon SE TDI owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
6,582 mi/yr
Typical
9,520 mi/yr
Average
10,502 mi/yr
Heavy usage
13,236 mi/yr

Seat Leon SE TDI MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Seat Leon SE TDI year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 100 85.0% 40,880 49,020 60,075

Seat Leon SE TDI Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Seat Leon SE TDI MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
96,137 mi
75th Percentile
124,789 mi
95th Percentile
168,543 mi
Max Recorded
5,062,750 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Seat Leon SE TDI

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2022

85.0% MOT pass rate from 100 tests

The best year to buy a used Seat Leon SE TDI is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.0% across 100 tests.

How Does the Seat Leon SE TDI Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Seat Leon SE TDI THIS CAR 88.2% 9,715 96,137 mi — yrs
Seat Ibiza 73.7% 3,964,856 60,259 mi 31 yrs
Seat Leon 78% 3,000,659 70,859 mi 26 yrs
Seat Alhambra 72.5% 690,916 95,606 mi 30 yrs
Mercedes-benz Gla 200 AMG Line Edition A 91.3% 6,650 29,233 mi — yrs

Compared to the Seat Ibiza (73.7% pass rate) and the Seat Leon (78.0% pass rate), the Seat Leon SE TDI outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Seat Leon SE TDI you like?

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Should you buy a used Seat Leon SE TDI?

The Seat Leon SE TDI has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.2% across 9,715 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Seat Leon SE TDI with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Seat Leon SE TDI owner drives around 9,520 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Seat Leon SE TDI — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Seat Leon SE TDI reliable?
Based on 9,715 MOT tests, the Seat Leon SE TDI has a 88.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Seat Leon SE TDI?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Seat Leon SE TDI do per year?
The typical Seat Leon SE TDI does around 9,520 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Seat Leon SE TDI last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Seat Leon SE TDI?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Seat Leon SE TDI?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Seat Leon SE TDI is 2022 with a 85.0% pass rate across 100 tests.