2006 Seat Leon — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 23,713 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Seat Leon, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 72.1% was in line with the average for small family cars of a similar age (72.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 28.3% in the 150k+ group versus 15.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 3,356 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.7% | 3,258 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.9% | 2,592 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 2,364 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 1,837 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.5% | 1,550 |
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 | 1,916 |
| 2 | Joints | 1,693 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,266 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,115 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,016 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 984 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 34.2% | 8,097 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.1% | 7,370 |
| 3 | Brakes | 29.8% | 7,062 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.9% | 4,951 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.6% | 2,990 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.0% | 2,845 |
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 | 51 | 15.7% |
| 30-60k | 710 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 3,134 | 27.2% |
| 90-120k | 6,764 | 28.8% |
| 120-150k | 7,186 | 28.0% |
| 150k+ | 5,857 | 28.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,176 | 27.5% |
| Petrol | 9,537 | 28.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,086 | 28.0% |
| 2022 | 5,824 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 4,674 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 3,484 | 27.2% |
| 2025 | 2,645 | 28.0% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Leon
Before buying a 2006 Seat Leon, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 14.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.7% 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 (10.9% 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 2006 Seat Leons pass their MOT?
72.1% of the 23,713 2006 Seat Leon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Seat Leon?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by suspension (13.7%).
Does the 2006 Leon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.7% in the 0-30k band to 28.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,713 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.