Seat LEON - 2004
358.3 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2004 is 384.6 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Seat LEON, model year 2004.
Sample size: 1,482 cars, 3,150 tests and 11,285 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: 1,482 cars
The 2004 SEAT Leon has a lower overall defect rate compared to the average car of the same year, with 358 defects per 100 vehicles versus the average of 382. This model shows particularly strong performance in the categories of Wheels, Suspensions & Axles, and Equipment, with defect rates significantly lower than the average. However, it falls short in the Steering category, where it has a higher defect rate than the average. Mileage trends indicate that defect rates increase with mileage, yet the Leon remains competitive across various mileage brackets. Overall, this model presents a favourable reliability profile, despite some specific areas for improvement.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 1,482 cars
Categories
Brakes
▼ 13.9% worse
187.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 164.2 / 100 tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▼ 37.3% worse
34.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 24.9 / 100 tests
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- 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.
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▲ 20.5% better
23.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.3 / 100 tests
- Wiper blade: defective
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 16.5% better
91.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 109.9 / 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
▲ 22.8% better
241.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 312.9 / 100 tests
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▼ 9.0% worse
69.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 63.6 / 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
- A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 29.7% better
9.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.8 / 100 tests
- 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
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type
Other
▼ 18.2% worse
59.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 50.5 / 100 tests
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
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: 928
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 869
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 822
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 576
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 493
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 407
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 376
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 371
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 326
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 301
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 182
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 122
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 97
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 94
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 94
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 85
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
FAIL
Occurrences: 75
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 73
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 73
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 73