Seat LEON - 2003
351.9 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2003 is 380.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Seat LEON, model year 2003.
Sample size: 1,142 cars, 2,386 tests and 8,396 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 1,142 cars
The 2003 SEAT Leon has an overall defect rate of 352 per 100 vehicles, which is 7% lower than the average for cars of the same year. Notably, this model performs significantly better in the equipment category, with a defect rate of 9% compared to the average of 13%. However, it faces a higher incidence of steering issues, with a defect rate of 31% against the average of 25%. Mileage-related trends indicate that defects tend to increase in older vehicles, with higher rates observed in those over 124,000 miles. Overall, while the Leon shows strengths in equipment reliability, its steering performance raises some concerns.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 1,142 cars
Categories
Brakes
▼ 1.6% worse
172.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 169.3 / 100 tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
Steering
▼ 23.0% worse
31.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▲ 8.4% better
27.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.8 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: defective
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 16.8% better
85.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 102.8 / 100 tests
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
- Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 16.4% better
252.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 302.1 / 100 tests
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▲ 0.9% better
64.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.2 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 33.8% better
9.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.6 / 100 tests
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
Other
▼ 16.5% worse
61.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 52.7 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 624
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 617
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 579
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 436
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 381
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 357
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 344
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 341
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 312
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 221
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 101
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 73
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 71
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 63
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 61
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 60
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 56
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 53
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 50
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 45