2008 Seat Leon — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 34,151 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Seat Leon, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 74.5% was in line with the average for small family cars of a similar age (73.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 26.8% in the 150k+ group versus 12.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.6% | 4,650 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 4,341 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.5% | 2,903 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 2,487 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 2,209 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.1% | 2,090 |
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 | 2,702 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 2,348 |
| 3 | Joints | 1,496 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,451 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,262 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,246 |
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 | 33.9% | 11,588 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.6% | 10,448 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.2% | 8,946 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.0% | 6,140 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 4,329 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.9% | 4,077 |
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 | 143 | 12.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,129 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 5,814 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 11,332 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 9,739 | 26.1% |
| 150k+ | 5,978 | 26.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 20,378 | 25.9% |
| Petrol | 13,773 | 25.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,787 | 25.4% |
| 2022 | 7,855 | 25.1% |
| 2023 | 6,966 | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 5,859 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 4,684 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Leon
Before buying a 2008 Seat Leon, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 13.6% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (13.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.5% 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 2008 Seat Leons pass their MOT?
74.5% of the 34,151 2008 Seat Leon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Seat Leon?
Suspension, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.7%).
Does the 2008 Leon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.6% in the 0-30k band to 26.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 34,151 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.