2012 SEAT Leon MOT pass rate: 72.8% (25,926 tests)
Is the 2012 Leon getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 74.5% +2.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 72.6% +1.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 71.2% +0.9 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2012 Leon
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5,306 | 28.5% |
| 2 | Brakes | 3,705 | 19.9% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 3,150 | 16.9% |
| 4 | Tyres | 2,742 | 14.7% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 1,336 | 7.2% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 984 | 5.3% |
All Leon years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,574 | 69.5% | +3.8 pts | 123,478 |
| 2003 | 3,229 | 70.1% | +5.1 pts | 128,275 |
| 2004 | 4,154 | 69.1% | +4.8 pts | 131,781 |
| 2005 | 4,886 | 68.5% | +4.1 pts | 128,702 |
| 2006 | 8,211 | 63.5% | -0.9 pts | 127,367 |
| 2007 | 12,513 | 67.0% | +1.9 pts | 126,039 |
| 2008 | 13,529 | 67.0% | +1.9 pts | 120,622 |
| 2009 | 14,177 | 68.0% | +1.6 pts | 116,402 |
| 2010 | 16,837 | 68.3% | +0.9 pts | 116,558 |
| 2011 | 19,101 | 70.2% | +1.0 pts | 109,143 |
| 2012 (this page) | 25,926 | 72.8% | +1.6 pts | 104,016 |
| 2013 | 34,022 | 78.0% | +4.7 pts | 95,802 |
| 2014 | 54,997 | 81.8% | +6.0 pts | 88,890 |
| 2015 | 50,584 | 83.0% | +4.3 pts | 78,794 |
| 2016 | 46,784 | 84.4% | +3.0 pts | 67,990 |
| 2017 | 53,728 | 84.4% | +0.4 pts | 59,108 |
| 2018 | 62,060 | 84.5% | -1.9 pts | 49,060 |
| 2019 | 53,087 | 84.4% | -4.0 pts | 40,082 |
| 2020 | 20,712 | 87.2% | -2.7 pts | 32,804 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: SEAT Leon years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
- Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2012 SEAT Leon reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 72.8% of their MOT tests (25,926 tests, 2023–2025), +1.6 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 104,016 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 Leon?
The median tested example shows 104,016 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.