Used Seat Leon 2013-2020 reliability

When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.

On the whole, the Leon is a solid and sensible family car, usually bought by people who look after their cars well. Check the interior for signs of wear and tear and alloys for any kerb damage. On the more powerful models, especially the Cupra versions, check that the engine isn’t too noisy on start-up and that there is no blue smoke coming out of the exhaust.

Reported problems are few, especially in the engine, clutch and gearbox departments. A lot of the Leon's components are shared with other Volkswagen Group models, which makes them easy to get hold of and not too pricey. There are a few reports of water leaks and some minor electrical gremlins, but owners seem to be happy with the Leon’s build quality and the longevity of its parts.

There is a recall involving the rear child locks that might disengage on cars built between 25 November 2015 and 14 April 2016. Check with your Seat dealer if you think your car might be affected.

Click here for more information. Contact your local Seat dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall.

Our data suggests the Seat Leon is a reliable car. In our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey, the Leon placed seventh out of 29 cars in the family car class. Its reliability score of 95.9% makes it more reliable than the Ford Focus and Kia Ceed, but less reliable than the Toyota Corolla.

Of reported faults, 4.2% of owners saw issues with the air-con and another 4.2% with the infotainment/sat-nav. Suspension faults related to 2.1% of owners in our survey, too.

As a car brand, Seat placed 18th out of 32 manufacturers, proving its a more reliable brand than Renault and Vauxhall, but less reliable than Ford and Mini.

Used Seat Leon: owners' reliability data

The Seat Leon is largely viewed as a reliable car, with many owners reporting positive experiences and minimal issues. However, some people did cite electrical and mechanical issues, albeit relatively infrequent ones.

Dealer service proved a mix bag. We have heard praise for quick, effective repairs and excellent customer service. On the other hand, some readers were unhappy with the cost of repairs and argued that the service they received was dissatisfactory.