2004 · 20 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2004 SEAT Leon MOT pass rate and common faults

1,352 MOT tests in 2024. 61.4% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

109Well above average
Passed first time61.4%
Failed or needed repairs38.6%
Typical mileage at test132,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,352 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements5.2%
  2. Position lamp: not working3.8%
  3. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.8%
  4. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.8%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.1%
  6. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.0%
  7. Stop lamp: not working3.0%
  8. Service brake performance: excessively binding2.9%
  9. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases2.7%
  10. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.7%
    67 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics28.6%
  2. Brakes23.2%
  3. Emissions & leaks15.3%
  4. Suspension14.1%
  5. Body & chassis12.4%
  6. Steering7.0%
  7. Tyres5.5%
  8. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.7%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded16.6%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened15.5%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine14.6%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.4%

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: rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements. 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 2004 SEAT Leon?

In 2024, 61.4% of 2004 SEAT Leon cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,352 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 SEAT Leon?

The most common failure reasons were rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; position lamp: not working; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2004 SEAT Leon reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 109, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).