Seat Leon S 16V Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Seat Leon S 16V car check
Is the Seat Leon S 16V reliable? We analysed 674 real MOT tests across 304 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Seat Leon S 16V? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Seat Leon S 16V is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, stop lamp not working and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Seat Leon S 16V.
Seat Leon S 16V — specs & performance
Verified from DVLA & DVSA recordsA snapshot of the engine, performance, dimensions, fuel economy and running costs for the Seat Leon S 16V — drawn from official DVLA vehicle records and the DVSA fuel-economy database.
Engine & Performance
- Engine size
- 1598cc
- Power
- 105 BHP
- 0–62 mph
- 10.9 sec
- Fuel type
- Petrol
Body & Dimensions
- Body type
- Car
- Common colour
- Black
- Wheel plan
- 2 Axle Rigid Body
Fuel Economy
- Combined
- 39.8 mpg
- Urban
- 29.4 mpg
- Extra-urban
- 49.6 mpg
- Fuel cost / 12k mi
- £2318
Tax & Emissions
- CO2 output
- 168 g/km Band H
- Emission class
- Not Available
- Road tax (12 mo.)
- £235
- Road tax (6 mo.)
- £129.25
Seat Leon S 16V Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Seat Leon S 16V. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Seat Leon S 16V MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Seat Leon S 16V to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Seat Leon S 16V Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Seat Leon S 16V fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Seat Leon S 16V Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Seat Leon S 16V owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Seat Leon S 16V MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Seat Leon S 16V year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 102 | 78.4% | 47,775 | 61,766 | 76,544 |
| 2001 | 136 | 70.6% | 50,503 | 60,264 | 79,323 |
Seat Leon S 16V Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Seat Leon S 16V MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Seat Leon S 16V
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
78.4% MOT pass rate from 102 tests
70.6% MOT pass rate from 136 tests
The best year to buy a used Seat Leon S 16V is 2002, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 78.4% across 102 tests. The 2001 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Seat Leon S 16V Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Leon S 16V THIS CAR | 74.9% | 674 | 81,374 mi | 25 yrs |
| Seat Ibiza | 73.7% | 3,964,856 | 60,259 mi | 31 yrs |
| Seat Leon | 78% | 3,000,659 | 70,859 mi | 26 yrs |
| Seat Alhambra | 72.5% | 690,916 | 95,606 mi | 30 yrs |
| Levc VN5 City | 86.8% | 950 | 31,283 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Seat Ibiza (73.7% pass rate) and the Seat Leon (78.0% pass rate), the Seat Leon S 16V sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Seat Leon S 16V you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Seat Leon S 16VShould you buy a used Seat Leon S 16V?
The Seat Leon S 16V has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.9% across 674 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Seat Leon S 16V are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (14 recorded failures), stop lamp not working (14), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (12). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Seat Leon S 16V owner drives around 6,830 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Seat Leon S 16V models stay on UK roads for around 25 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.