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FX53 VBM

2003 Seat Leon

Black Petrol 1781cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires11 Jul 2026
Tests29 (20 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate69%

Mileage

143,426 mi
Last recorded143,426 miles
Recorded on11 Jul 2025
Typical for 2003 Seat Leon80,078 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Seat
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationFX53 VBM
MakeSeat
ModelLeon
Year2003
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,781cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

20 pass 9 fail
Pass 11 Jul 2025 143,426 miles

Nearside Front Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Suspension rod ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Jul 2024 139,403 miles
Fail 10 Jul 2024 139,403 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Fail 3 May 2024 139,386 miles

Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Rear Direction indicator obviously incorrectly positioned (4.4.3 (a))

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Nearside Registration plate lamp missing in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 1 Feb 2023 136,701 miles
Pass 8 Feb 2022 133,465 miles
Pass 9 Mar 2021 130,240 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing + outer wall ( small cuts ) (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Outer Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened inner side (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear tyre tread 3mm

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn axle bushes x 2 (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Fail 8 Mar 2021 130,237 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high will not adjust (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Nearside Front Road wheel fixing missing bolt missing (5.2.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Front Items removed from driver's view prior to test ()

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing + outer wall ( small cuts ) (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Outer Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened inner side (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear tyre tread 3mm

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn axle bushes x 2 (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Pass 24 Feb 2020 127,376 miles
Pass 18 Feb 2019 121,440 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 14 Feb 2019 121,268 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 26 Feb 2018 114,786 miles

Nearside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Fail 26 Feb 2018 114,786 miles

Nearside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Rear Body insecure and dangerous to other road users trim under petrol tank insecure (6.1.B.1b)

Pass 2 Mar 2017 106,825 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Fail 2 Mar 2017 106,825 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Nearside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter insecure to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc twisted (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Pass 11 Mar 2016 98,076 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 27 Apr 2015 91,375 miles

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

o/s/r tyre side wall cracking no ply or cord exposed.

Pass 25 Apr 2014 87,092 miles

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 30 Apr 2013 83,541 miles
Pass 12 Apr 2012 76,858 miles

Engine Management Light On

Handbrake Cables Stiff

Rear Exhaust Box Outer Skin in Poor Condition

Pass 6 Apr 2011 69,716 miles
Pass 7 Apr 2010 65,907 miles

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Fail 7 Apr 2010 65,906 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 30 Apr 2009 60,154 miles
Fail 22 Apr 2009 60,079 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Pass 18 Apr 2008 54,560 miles
Fail 18 Apr 2008 54,560 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 1 May 2007 47,346 miles
Pass 4 Sep 2006 39,985 miles

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

How Reliable is the Seat Leon?

Based on 3,000,659 MOT tests across 265,838 vehicles.

78.0%
Pass Rate
7,526
Miles/Year
26
Year Lifespan
265,838
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 67,909
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 25,884
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 22,706
Stop lamp not working 22,676
position lamp(s) not working 18,548
Full Seat Leon reliability report

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FX53 VBM is a 2003 Seat Leon in Black with a 1,781cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69%.

Across all 2003 Seat Leon models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.5% with a typical mileage of 80,078 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Seat Leon fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 67,909 recorded failures. If you're considering buying FX53 VBM, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Seat Leon typically stays on UK roads for around 26 years. At 23 years old, this Seat Leon is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of FX53 VBM?

You can check the full history of FX53 VBM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was FX53 VBM registered?

FX53 VBM is a 2003 Seat Leon, first registered on 12 September 2003.

Is FX53 VBM safe to buy?

The MOT history for FX53 VBM shows 29 tests with a 69% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does FX53 VBM have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on FX53 VBM. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.