Seat Leon
Registered from 2000 to 2023.
About this model
The SEAT León, also spelled Leon in some markets, is a small family car built by the Spanish car manufacturer SEAT since October 1999. It is named after the city of León.
From the Wikipedia article SEAT León, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2019 1.5 petrol. 1,370 of 12,159 tests failed, 11%.
Better than 25% of 2019 cars. The typical one fails 9%, across 908 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres and wheels | 44% | 598 |
| Suspension | 42% | 573 |
| Visibility | 11% | 147 |
| Brakes | 10% | 134 |
| Lights and electrics | 8% | 109 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 4% | 57 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Where it stands out against its peers
- Suspension: failed more often than 98% of 2019 cars — 42% of its 1,370 failed tests, where an ordinary 2019 car has 7%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Tyres and wheels — 44% of its failures
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Suspension — 42% of its failures
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
- Brakes — 10% of its failures
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Lights and electrics — 8% of its failures
- Visibility — 11% of its failures
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 80–100k miles this one fails 18% of its inspections, against the 14% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 7% | 5% | 2,001 | |
| 20–40k miles | 11% | 9% | 7,128 | |
| 40–60k miles | 15% | 12% | 2,395 | |
| 60–80k miles | 18% | 14% | 494 | |
| 80–100k miles | 18% | 14% | 91 |
12,109 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 20k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.5 petrol · 143 hp · 1398 kg · 2672 mm wheelbase · 5.6 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 1.5 petrol · 1249 kg · 2619 mm wheelbase · 5.6 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 1.5 petrol · 1275 kg · 2619 mm wheelbase · 6.1 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 1.4 petrol · 123 hp · 1263 kg · 2629 mm wheelbase · 5.1 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2017 | 1.4 petrol · 123 hp · 1272 kg · 2629 mm wheelbase · 5.1 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 1.4 petrol · 137 hp · 1281 kg · 2620 mm wheelbase · 4.9 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 2.0 diesel · 163 hp · 1509 kg · 2629 mm wheelbase · 4.9 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 1.6 diesel · 102 hp · 1347 kg · 2620 mm wheelbase · 3.9 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 1.6 diesel · 100 hp · 1321 kg · 2607 mm wheelbase · 4.1 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2012 | 1.6 diesel · 101 hp · 1417 kg · 2580 mm wheelbase · 4.5 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2011 | 1.6 diesel · 102 hp · 1354 kg · 2567 mm wheelbase · 4.3 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2010 | 2.0 diesel · 1404 kg · 2591 mm wheelbase · 5.5 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A11/00108/21
During the process of assembling the rear stub axle housing at the supplier’s, it is possible that the attachment screw of the rear right or rear left stub axle housing was not tightened to the required torque. Friction noise may occur in the area of the rear axle during operation, which may be followed by loss of control of the vehicle when the stub axle housing comes loose, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00033/19
Due to an inadequate sensitivity in the LED turn signal operating control, a failure of the LED turn signals is not always detected. As a result, the mandatory warning (acoustic/optical) does not occur in these cases and the driver will not be notified of possible failure of the direction indicators, increasing the risk of an accident.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00697/22
In the event of a short circuit, a faulty fuse can cause an arc flash, which could cause fire and lead to an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of Motor Vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00858/24
Due to the incorrect assembly of the heat shield, the brake fluid reservoir nozzle can be melted by the exhaust system heat. This can result in brake fluid leakage, creating a risk of fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01328/22
In the event of an accident, there is a risk that the load in the baggage compartment will shoot forwards to the partition grille and cause the bracket to detach from the body, increasing the risk of injury to the passengers. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01388/21
Due to a manufacturing error, seat belt anchorage points for the front seats may be inadequate.This will impair the seat belts' protective effect in the event of a collision or sudden braking, increase the risk of injury. The product does not meet the requirements set out in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01630/24
The propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time. If the airbags deploy, it could result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/02618/23
Improper heat treatment applied to engine mounts may cause them to break. This affects the stability of driving, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
2 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.