Seat Leon TDI S Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Seat Leon TDI S car check
Is the Seat Leon TDI S reliable? We analysed 1,016 real MOT tests across 415 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Seat Leon TDI S? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Seat Leon TDI S is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include coil spring incomplete, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and direction indicator incorrect colour. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Seat Leon TDI S.
Seat Leon TDI S Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Seat Leon TDI S. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Seat Leon TDI S MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Seat Leon TDI S to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Seat Leon TDI S Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Seat Leon TDI S fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Seat Leon TDI S Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Seat Leon TDI S owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Seat Leon TDI S MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Seat Leon TDI S year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 68 | 75.0% | 74,947 | 95,208 | 122,508 |
Seat Leon TDI S Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Seat Leon TDI S MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Seat Leon TDI S
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
75.0% MOT pass rate from 68 tests
The best year to buy a used Seat Leon TDI S is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 75.0% across 68 tests.
How Does the Seat Leon TDI S Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Leon TDI S THIS CAR | 73.0% | 1,016 | 149,626 mi | 25 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 E220 Spt CDI Blueefi-cy A | 75.1% | 916 | 78,317 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Seat Ibiza (73.7% pass rate) and the Seat Leon (78.0% pass rate), the Seat Leon TDI S trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Seat Leon TDI S you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Seat Leon TDI SShould you buy a used Seat Leon TDI S?
The Seat Leon TDI S has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.0% across 1,016 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Seat Leon TDI S are coil spring incomplete (9 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (8), and direction indicator incorrect colour (5). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Seat Leon TDI S owner drives around 6,776 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.
In terms of longevity, most Seat Leon TDI S models stay on UK roads for around 25 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
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.