Car statistics by year
2016 SEAT Leon
SEAT Leon cars first registered in 2016: how they did at their 2025 MOT, what failed them, how far they have been driven and how many are still on the road. Compared with every car first registered in 2016, so like is set against like.
- MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 79.7% All 2016 cars 75.6%
- Typical mileage at the MOT 76,000 miles; all 2016 cars 65,300
- Left at the end of 2025 16,710 100.2% of the 16,675 at the end of 2016
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 7.4% All 2016 cars 6.7%
- Tests with an advisory 54.0% All 2016 cars 48.6%
- MOT tests in 2025 15,602 normal tests in Great Britain
How do 2016 SEAT Leons do at their MOT?
In 2025, at about 9 years old, 79.7% of 2016 SEAT Leon MOT tests were passed first time, against 75.6% for all cars first registered in 2016. 2016 SEAT Leons did better than average for their age, by 4.1 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 81.1% of the time (all 2016 cars 77.5%).
MOT pass rate by year of first registration: SEAT Leon vs all cars
Each pair of bars is one year of first registration, tested in 2025. Older cars pass less often, so compare each SEAT Leon bar with the all-cars bar beside it.
| First registered | SEAT Leon | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| ’10 | 61.0% | 59.3% |
| ’11 | 63.5% | 61.5% |
| ’12 | 65.5% | 63.6% |
| ’13 | 71.4% | 66.0% |
| ’14 | 76.6% | 69.1% |
| ’15 | 78.6% | 72.6% |
| ’16 | 79.7% | 75.6% |
| ’17 | 78.5% | 79.1% |
| ’18 | 78.5% | 81.8% |
| ’19 | 77.7% | 84.4% |
| ’20 | 83.9% | 86.9% |
| ’21 | 87.2% | 88.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT failures on the 2016 SEAT Leon
Coil spring: fractured or broken was the most common single reason a 2016 SEAT Leon failed, on 13.2% of about 3,200 failed tests. By area of the car, tyres failed most often (31.7% of failed tests; all 2016 cars 27.6%). 7.4% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 6.7% for all cars first registered in 2016. A failed test can have several defects, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common reasons for failure
Share of failed tests with each defect. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension | 13.2% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes | 12.8% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 12.0% |
| Shock absorbers: serious fluid leak Suspension | 11.6% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility | 6.8% |
| Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres | 6.4% |
| Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 6.3% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.8% |
| Headlamp aim: too low Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4.8% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 4.7% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Failure categories: SEAT Leon vs all 2016 cars
The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.
| Category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Tyres | 31.7% |
| Suspension | 28.8% |
| Brakes | 23.2% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 15.2% |
| Visibility | 15.0% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 3.4% |
| Road wheels | 2.6% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT advisories on the 2016 SEAT Leon
An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 54.0% of 2016 SEAT Leon tests had at least one (all 2016 cars 48.6%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.
Most common advisories
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Shock absorbers: light misting of oil Suspension | 18.9% |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 18.1% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 10.8% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 9.3% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 9.1% |
| Service brake performance: binding but not excessively Brakes | 3.1% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.0% |
| Coil spring: corroded Suspension | 3.0% |
| Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt Non-component advisories | 2.9% |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes | 2.7% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What mileage is normal for a 2016 SEAT Leon?
Half of the 2016 SEAT Leons tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 76,000 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 59,200 and a quarter more than 96,000. For all cars first registered in 2016, the middle figure was 65,300 miles, so 2016 SEAT Leons have been driven 16.4% further than average.
Mileage at the 2025 MOT
Odometer readings at each car’s latest MOT of the year. The bar covers the middle half of cars; the line the middle 80%.
| 10% | 25% | Median | 75% | 90% | Cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 SEAT Leon | 45,300 | 59,200 | 76,000 | 96,000 | 116,900 | 15,079 |
| All 2016 cars | 32,200 | 47,000 | 65,300 | 86,000 | 108,800 | 2,323,151 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
How many 2016 SEAT Leons are left?
At the end of 2016, 16,675 2016 SEAT Leons were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, 16,710 were: 16,431 licensed and 279 declared off the road (SORN). That is 100.2% still on the record, against 94.1% for all cars first registered in 2016.
Share still on the record since 2016
Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2016. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.
| Year end | 2016 SEAT Leon | All 2016 cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 2017 | 105.0% | 100.0% |
| 2018 | 104.8% | 99.0% |
| 2019 | 101.7% | 96.5% |
| 2020 | 102.7% | 96.5% |
| 2021 | 102.9% | 96.6% |
| 2022 | 102.5% | 96.4% |
| 2023 | 101.7% | 95.6% |
| 2024 | 101.2% | 95.0% |
| 2025 | 100.2% | 94.1% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated
Recalls that may affect cars built around 2016
4 of the SEAT Leon’s 22 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2016. 1 has no build dates, so could apply to any year.
The 2016 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2016 may have been built in 2015, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.
| Launched | Concern | Built | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jul 2025 | Takata front drivers or passenger airbag replacement | 18 Dec 2009 to 14 Apr 2016 | 67 |
| 11 Sept 2023 | Front driver airbag replacement | 24 Jan 2008 to 10 Feb 2017 | 6,433 |
| 14 Oct 2019 | Possible fault in a turn signal | 1 Nov 2016 to 5 Jul 2018 | 23,732 (all models) |
| 5 Aug 2016 | Manual child lock may disengage without warning | 25 Nov 2015 to 14 Apr 2016 | 1,334 (all models) |
Every SEAT Leon recall · Check a specific car on GOV.UK · How we match recalls
Recall details come from manufacturers through DVSA. “Vehicles” is the number the manufacturer reported; “all models” means the figure covers everything in the recall. A recall listed here may not apply to a particular car: only the manufacturer or GOV.UK can say for its VIN.
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis January 1992 to September 2026 Updated
Other years of the SEAT Leon
20 years of the SEAT Leon, by year of first registration, have their own page with MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left. Against all cars of the same age, the 2014 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (76.6% passed first time) and the 2019 cars worst (77.7%).
| Year | Registered | Left | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | – | 1,930 | 63.0% |
| 2004 | – | 2,197 | 61.8% |
| 2005 | – | 2,216 | 60.4% |
| 2006 | – | 2,886 | 55.4% |
| 2007 | – | 4,098 | 59.7% |
| 2008 | – | 4,217 | 60.0% |
| 2009 | – | 4,600 | 59.8% |
| 2010 | – | 5,713 | 61.0% |
| 2011 | – | 6,898 | 63.5% |
| 2012 | – | 9,783 | 65.5% |
| 2013 | – | 12,756 | 71.4% |
| 2014 | 22,020 | 20,336 | 76.6% |
| 2015 | 18,958 | 18,440 | 78.6% |
| 2016 | 16,675 | 16,710 | 79.7% |
| 2017 | 18,717 | 18,749 | 78.5% |
| 2018 | 21,536 | 21,181 | 78.5% |
| 2019 | 19,736 | 19,107 | 77.7% |
| 2020 | 13,739 | 13,526 | 83.9% |
| 2021 | 11,273 | 10,875 | 87.2% |
| 2022 | 3,579 | 3,403 | 88.6% |
Registered: cars on the DVLA record at the end of the year they were first registered (these counts start in 2014, so older years show a dash). Left: licensed or declared SORN at the end of 2025. Both cover the United Kingdom. Pass rate: first-time passes at normal MOT tests in Great Britain in 2025; all cars: every car first registered the same year.
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT results and mileage | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 15,602 MOT tests of 2016 SEAT Leon cars | 15 September 2026 |
| Cars on the record | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of 2025 | 16,710 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) | 15 September 2026 |
- MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of SEAT Leon cars first registered in 2016; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2016.
- Year of first registration is DVSA’s first-use date: when the car was first registered, in the UK or abroad.
- Defects and advisories are DVSA’s descriptions made readable. Where on the car a defect was found (side, front or rear) is ignored, so the same fault on any wheel counts once per test.
- Mileage is the odometer reading at each car’s latest normal MOT of the year, as recorded by the tester. A few readings are in kilometres or mistyped; percentiles are not thrown by a handful of outliers.
- Cars on the record come from DfT table VEH0124 and cover the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland; MOT figures cover Great Britain only.
- DVSA records the model name typed in at the test. We match those names to DVLA’s generic models, so a handful of tests may be counted under a close relative.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.