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SEAT Leon Mk4 (KL) (2020-present) reliability

At a glance

SEAT Leon Mk4 (KL) built around 2020: about average at the MOT

SEAT Leon Mk4 (KL) models built around 2020 fail their MOT about as often as similar cars the same age.

Looking at a SEAT Leon Mk4 (KL) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Key figure

15% of MOT tests on SEAT Leon Mk4 (KL) models built around 2020 ended in a fail (retests included), against 12% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on SEAT Leon Mk4 (KL) models built around 2020 involves the suspension.

SEAT Leon Mk4 (KL)
No reliability rating: too close to call between ratings2020-presentHatchbackPETROL / DIESEL / HYBRID ELECTRIC

Based on 31,001 tests of Leon models registered 2020+.

About 1 in 9 petrol Leon cars registered in 2022 (11.1%) failed their first MOT.

Based on 2,274 first MOTs (DVSA MOT results, 2025).

About 1 in 50 Leon Mk4 (KL) MOTs (2.1%) failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. That's for cars built around 2020 (5 years old), all fuels combined.

Based on 9,659 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted. Nor is a fail with no later MOT on record.

About 1 in 20 Leon Mk4 (KL) MOTs (5.5%) found at least one dangerous defect. These are cars built around 2020 (5 years old).

Based on 9,659 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). Dangerous is the most serious grade an MOT gives: a direct risk to road safety.

Mk4 (KL) fail rate by age

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for cars this age
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
7,29510.7%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
14,04712.1%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
9,65914.9%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 5 years old.

How the Leon Mk4 (KL) compares

At each age below, see how the Leon Mk4 (KL) holds up against other cars the same age. The averages combine all fuel types.

Based on 60,328 tests across 7 SEAT models, built around 2020 (5 years old).

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateSEAT average
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
7,29510.7%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
14,04712.1%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
9,65914.9%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs.

What to check before viewing

The model's most common MOT issues, turned into things you can ask about or look for.

Brake pads

High priority

Ask when the pads were last replaced and check the warning-light history.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Shock absorbers

Worth checking

Bounce-test each corner; check for oily streaks down the strut bodies.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks, with each one's figures taken at the same age as the Leon Mk4 (KL).

  1. 1

    Suzuki SX4

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    10.6%

    Lower fail rate: 10.6%, against 14.9% for the SEAT Leon Mk4 (KL), both built around 2020.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    1,440 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

  2. 2

    Mini

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    10.7%
    Still registered at 10 years
    95.6%

    Lower fail rate: 10.7%, against 14.9% for the SEAT Leon Mk4 (KL), both built around 2020.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate, share still registered and recalls only.

    44,857 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

  3. 3

    Mazda 2

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    9.6%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    0.8%
    Dangerous
    3%
    Still registered at 10 years
    95.2%

    Lower fail rate: 9.6%, against 14.9% for the SEAT Leon Mk4 (KL), both built around 2020.

    5,812 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

  4. 4

    Toyota Corolla

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    9.8%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    0.9%
    Dangerous
    2.9%

    Lower fail rate: 9.8%, against 14.9% for the SEAT Leon Mk4 (KL), both built around 2020.

    7 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    20,631 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Recall context

24 recalls in all

6 of the 24 Leon Mk4 (KL) recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 6 recalls

Top concerns

  • In certain vehicles within a range of specified VINs it has been detected that an engine support that did not receive th
  • The wiring harness of the airbag control unit may possibly have been caught by the clutch pedal during installation
  • In some vehiclesthe fuse in the high-voltage system has been produced in part with an insufficient amount of extinguish

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Fail rate by engine size, built around 2020 (5 years old)

Engine sizes across all petrol Leon tests (not specific to Mk4 (KL)).

Under 1.0 litre17.3%1,436 tests1.4 to 2.0 litres15.5%13,995 tests
How Leon Mk4 (KL) cars have aged

How Leon Mk4 (KL) cars have aged

How fail rates have changed as these cars got older. Each line follows cars first registered in about the same year across several years of MOT data. Not a prediction for any one car.

Some lines cover only a year or two, so read this as a rough guide.

0%10%345Age at MOTBuilt around 2021, 3 years old at the time of MOT: 11.0% (8,418 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2021, 4 years old at the time of MOT: 11.7% (7,944 tests, 2025 data)2021Built around 2020, 3 years old at the time of MOT: 11.6% (10,803 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2020, 4 years old at the time of MOT: 12.4% (10,051 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2020, 5 years old at the time of MOT: 14.9% (9,659 tests, 2025 data)2020
First registered around 2021First registered around 2020
Mk4 (KL) variants compared

Leon Mk4 (KL) variants built around 2020

The fail rate for each Leon Mk4 (KL) variant, grouped by fuel. Each row counts fails per MOT test, the same way as the main fail rate chart.

Petrol

  • LEON16.0%4,731 tests
  • LEON FR BLACK EDITION TSI EVO15.6%1,074 tests
  • LEON FR TSI EVO10.2%909 tests
  • LEON SE DYNAMIC TSI EVO13.5%550 tests
  • LEON FR BLACK ED TSI EVO S-A15.2%329 tests
  • LEON SE DYNAMIC TSI13.7%233 tests

Diesel

  • LEON18.9%862 tests

Hybrid electric

  • LEON FR PHEV S-A8.8%227 tests
All generations of this modelPlenty of data

Most common issues on SEAT Leons of this age

This list covers every SEAT Leon built around 2020, whichever generation it is. We don't have a defect list for the Mk4 (KL) on its own.

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Shock absorber has a light misting of oil

    19.9%
    Advisory: 5,344Fail: 359 (6% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    17.7%
    Advisory: 4,709Fail: 475 (9% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    13.4%
    Advisory: 2,821Fail: 357 (11% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    12.3%
    Advisory: 3,021Fail: 437 (13% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    5.7%
    Advisory: 1,424Fail: 8 (1% of the times it was found)

Based on 18,595 tests

Looking at a SEAT Leon Mk4 (KL) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2020 (5 years old), the SEAT Leon Mk4 (KL) (2020-present) fails MOTs slightly more often than typical for this age. This is based on 9,659 5-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

*The build year is worked out from the date a car was first used on UK roads. For most cars this matches when it was registered, but imports may differ by a few months.

Data sourced from DVSA MOT History API. From 31,001 MOT tests on SEAT Leons first registered from 2020. These figures are a guide, not a guarantee.