Used car guide

2021 Cupra Leon VZ2 Phev S-A: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Cupra Leon VZ2 Phev S-As, from 333 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 333 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

333MOT tests in 2025
79%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
8,800typical miles a year
7.1×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Cupra Leon VZ2 Phev S-As than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Shock absorbers7.1× usual
    Cupra Leon VZ2 Phev S-A
    12% All 2021 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 0.3% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

By area

The share of 2021 Cupra Leon VZ2 Phev S-A MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    15% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    15% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    4% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    3% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Lights and electrics
    2% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

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Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2021 Cupra Leon VZ2 Phev S-As registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score