2004 Seat Leon — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,279 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Seat Leon, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 74.5% was above the average for small family cars of a similar age (71.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.1% in the 150k+ group versus 10.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 1,767 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.8% | 1,218 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.8% | 1,109 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 935 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 892 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.7% | 641 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 756 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 559 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 540 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 523 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 512 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 468 |
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 | 38.3% | 4,323 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.3% | 3,306 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.0% | 2,929 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.2% | 2,391 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.0% | 1,688 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.2% | 1,605 |
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 | 40 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 340 | 20.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,350 | 22.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,801 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 3,183 | 25.6% |
| 150k+ | 3,560 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,935 | 24.3% |
| Diesel | 4,344 | 27.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,362 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 2,663 | 25.1% |
| 2023 | 2,184 | 25.2% |
| 2024 | 1,700 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 1,370 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Leon
Before buying a 2004 Seat Leon, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 15.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.8% 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.
- Suspension (9.8% 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.
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 2004 Seat Leons pass their MOT?
74.5% of the 11,279 2004 Seat Leon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Seat Leon?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by brakes (10.8%).
Does the 2004 Leon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,279 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.