Used Seat Leon 2020-present reliability
Category: Family car
The Seat Leon is good to drive, spacious and well-equipped, but its reliability record is poor
What should I look for in a used Seat Leon hatchback?
When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.
On the whole, the Leon is a solid 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.
One area worth checking is the touchscreen infotainment system. The Leon is known to suffer from infotainment glitches, with the system sometimes failing completely, so check whether the system is working as it should be.
What are the most common problems with a used Seat Leon hatchback?
Recalls have been issued for the following faults. Make sure that all remedial work has been carried out by checking with your local Seat dealer. You will not have to pay for anything involving the recall.
Reason for recall
The front seat belts may not be properly anchored due to a manufacturing error.
How the manufacturer will repair: Check the front seat belts in all the affected vehicles and replace if necessary.
Number of affected vehicles: 346
Date of recall: 31/08/2021
Reason for recall
It is possible that the rear knuckle fastening screw does not have the correct tightening torque.
How the manufacturer will repair: The rear knuckle must be replaced in all affected vehicles.
Number of affected vehicles: 5
Date of recall: 10/11/2021
Reason for recall
In some vehicles within the range of specified VINs, it is possible that they have engine design covers installed that could detach from their fixing depending on use (very sporty driving or poor road conditions) and the operating time.
How the manufacturer will repair: The engine design cover must be removed on all affected vehicles.
Number of affected vehicles: 2309
Date of recall: 23/03/2022
Reason for recall
In some vehicles, the fuse in the high-voltage system has been produced in part with an insufficient amount of extinguishing sand.
How the manufacturer will repair: An insulating mat must be placed above the switching unit for the high-voltage battery in all of the affected vehicles.
Number of affected vehicles: 2347
Date of recall: 07/04/2022
Reason for recall
There is a possibility that the wiring harness of the airbag control unit was caught by the clutch pedal during installation.
How the manufacturer will repair: The correct position of the airbag control unit wiring harness must be checked and if required secured in the correct position. Repair any existing damage as necessary.
Number of affected vehicles: 10,145
Date of recall: 28/06/2022
Is a used Seat Leon hatchback reliable?
The current Leon finished 24th out of 25 cars in the family car class in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, with an overall score of a disappointing 74.2%. That makes it one of the least reliable cars in the class, with it only being slightly more reliable than its sibling, the Volkswagen Golf, which finished in last place in diesel form.
Reliability rating 74.2%
Nearly half (48%) of the Seat Leons we were told about had experienced a fault. The sat-nav/infotainment, non-engine electrics and bodywork were the most common areas of complaint. These issues were slow to resolve, with 62% of cars sitting in workshops for more than a week. Seat covered the cost of 97% of the fixes, though.
Seat as a brand didn't do very well, finishing in 26th place out of 31 manufacturers, with an overall score of 87.5%. This result put the brand above the likes of MG, Nissan and Vauxhall, but below Citroën, Ford, Kia, Skoda and Toyota.
Used Seat Leon reliability: the owners' view
In our latest Reliability Survey, Seat Leon (2020-present) owners said they experienced mixed results for reliability and dealer service, particularly across petrol and hybrid models.
Some petrol Leon owners reported a smooth ownership experience with no faults, highlighting confidence in the car’s mechanical dependability. However, others noted recurring issues – especially with electrical systems, including infotainment glitches and warning lights appearing without clear causes.
Hybrid owners were more likely to experience faults, particularly involving the battery management system and electronics. One owner described their hybrid Leon as “unreliable from the start”, with multiple trips to the dealer needed.
Feedback on Seat’s dealer network was similarly varied. While some praised quick turnaround times and helpful staff, others were frustrated by slow diagnostics, delays in sourcing parts and poor communication. In several cases, problems took multiple visits to resolve, undermining customer confidence in aftersales support.
If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.
