2021 SEAT Leon diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2021 SEAT Leon diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2021 SEAT Leon diesel than on all cars registered in 2021.

• Shock absorbers8.5× usual
  SEAT Leon

  11.9% All 2021 cars

  1.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 0.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Common 2021 SEAT Leon diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2021 SEAT Leon diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  30% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Suspension
  14% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Brakes
  11% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  5% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

• Lights and electrics
  4% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Seats and seatbelts
  1% of testsRough price £80–£250

  At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Known faults on the 2021 SEAT Leon diesel

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Seatbelt, airbag wiring and rear knuckle recalls

  Some cars

  Recalls covered front seatbelt anchors, an airbag harness caught by the clutch pedal, a rear knuckle screw, engine covers that could detach and a high-voltage fuse.

  At the viewing: Ask a SEAT dealer to check the VIN for outstanding recalls.

  Source: What Car?: used SEAT Leon (2020 on) reliability

• Infotainment glitches and electrical warnings

  All engines

  48% of cars in What Car?'s survey had a fault, mostly infotainment, non-engine electrics and bodywork, and many took over a week to fix.

  At the viewing: Use the screen and check no warnings stay on.

  Source: What Car?: used SEAT Leon (2020 on) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2021 SEAT Leon diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Have all the recalls been done?
2. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 8.5× as often on the 2021 SEAT Leon diesel as on other cars the same age.)
3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?