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

Free Seat Leon TDI SE car check

Is the Seat Leon TDI SE reliable? We analysed 228 real MOT tests across 119 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 228 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
72.4%
Typical Mileage
126,782mi
Annual Mileage
10,031mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Seat Leon TDI SE is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include direction indicator incorrect colour, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and headlamp aim too low. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Seat Leon TDI SE.

Seat Leon TDI SE Number Plates

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

Seat Leon TDI SE Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Seat Leon TDI SE fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Direction indicator incorrect colour 8
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 5
Headlamp aim too low 4
Direction indicators incorrect colour 4
Horn not working 4
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 4
Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. 3
brake disc excessively pitted 3
position lamp(s) not working 3
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 3

Seat Leon TDI SE Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
6,489 mi/yr
Typical
10,031 mi/yr
Average
10,976 mi/yr
Heavy usage
14,594 mi/yr

Seat Leon TDI SE Mileage Distribution

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

Median
126,782 mi
75th Percentile
162,134 mi
95th Percentile
197,976 mi
Max Recorded
228,565 mi

How Does the Seat Leon TDI SE 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 SE THIS CAR 72.4% 228 126,782 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
Nissan Juke Premiere Edition Dig-t 89.9% 465 26,500 mi — yrs

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

Found a Seat Leon TDI SE you like?

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Should you buy a used Seat Leon TDI SE?

The Seat Leon TDI SE has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.4% across 228 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Seat Leon TDI SE are direction indicator incorrect colour (8 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5), and headlamp aim too low (4). 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 SE owner drives around 10,031 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 TDI SE — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Seat Leon TDI SE reliable?
Based on 228 MOT tests, the Seat Leon TDI SE has a 72.4% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Seat Leon TDI SE?
The most common MOT failures are direction indicator incorrect colour, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and headlamp aim too low. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Seat Leon TDI SE do per year?
The typical Seat Leon TDI SE does around 10,031 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Seat Leon TDI SE last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Seat Leon TDI SE?
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.