Used Seat Leon Estate 2020-present reliability
Category: Estate car
The Seat Leon Estate is a fantastic all-rounder. It's spacious and packed with kit, but it's let down by a poor reliability record.
What should I look for in a used Seat Leon estate?
On the whole, the Leon Estate 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.
What are the most common problems with a used Seat Leon estate?
As of writing, the current Seat Leon Estate has had the following recalls. You'll need to check with your local dealer that all remedial work has been carried out.
Recalls
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
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
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
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
Is a used Seat Leon estate reliable?
Unfortunately, the Leon finished in 25th place out of 26 cars in the family car class in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey, with an overall score of 74.2%. That put it above the Volkswagen Golf but below everything else in this class.
Seat as a brand performed rather averagely, finishing in 18th place out of 32 manufacturers albeit with an overall score of 90.9%. This result placed the brand above Audi, Mercedes, Renault and Volkswagen but below BMW, Ford, Kia, Skoda and Volvo.
Used Seat Leon Estate reliability: the owners' view
As part of our annual Reliability Survey, What Car? readers said the reliability of the Leon Estate was below average, with several owners reporting issues while also praising dealer service.
One recurring complaint involved the car’s electronic systems, with multiple readers experiencing faults in the infotainment unit and warning lights illuminating unnecessarily. These issues sometimes required repeated visits to dealerships, with one owner describing the repairs as "tedious" due to long waits for parts. However, another praised the dealership’s professionalism, noting that faults were fixed under warranty without extra cost.
There were also reports of door locks failing, which required replacement. While the issue was resolved promptly for some, others mentioned delays caused by parts shortages.
Despite these problems, a few owners reported no faults at all, describing the Leon Estate as "reliable" and "trouble-free." Dealer networks were generally commended for being approachable and efficient, though communication could be improved.
If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.
