2002 Seat Leon — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,583 MOT tests analysed for the 2002 Seat Leon, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 74.6% was above the average for small family cars of a similar age (71.7%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 715 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.6% | 484 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.8% | 403 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 369 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.9% | 362 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.2% | 237 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 322 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 293 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 224 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 214 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 206 |
| 6 | Joints | 193 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 38.7% | 1,773 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.2% | 1,657 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.9% | 1,277 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.5% | 986 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.3% | 792 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 649 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 32 | 21.9% |
| 30-60k | 305 | 17.7% |
| 60-90k | 611 | 24.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,212 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,247 | 27.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,159 | 26.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,578 | 25.0% |
| Diesel | 1,005 | 27.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,448 | 26.5% |
| 2022 | 1,147 | 25.5% |
| 2023 | 813 | 23.7% |
| 2024 | 659 | 25.8% |
| 2025 | 516 | 24.4% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Leon
Before buying a 2002 Seat Leon, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 15.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (8.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2002 Seat Leons pass their MOT?
74.6% of the 4,583 2002 Seat Leon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Seat Leon?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by suspension (10.6%).
Does the 2002 Leon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.9% in the 0-30k band to 26.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,583 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.