Volkswagen Polo MOT pass rate and common failures

67% of Volkswagen Polo MOTs passed first time, below the 70% for all cars at the same ages.

67%passed first time (cars its age: 70%)
5.1mVolkswagen Polo MOTs counted since May 2018
5,500typical miles a year at 10 years old

First-time pass rate by year registered

Each year's Volkswagen Polos against every car first registered the same year, at the same ages. Newer cars have only had their first few MOTs, so they look better. Years with fewer than 5,000 MOTs are left out.

Share of MOTs passed first time, by year first registered. All cars: every car first registered that year, at the same ages.
Registered	Polo	All cars	MOTs
2023	91%	88%	9k
2022	92%	88%	42k
2021	88%	86%	87k
2020	87%	86%	103k
2019	83%	85%	181k
2018	81%	84%	258k
2017	82%	83%	327k
2016	81%	80%	412k
2015	78%	78%	442k
2014	72%	74%	382k
2013	68%	71%	333k
2012	66%	68%	321k
2011	62%	65%	343k
2010	60%	62%	328k
2009	58%	61%	208k
2008	55%	59%	232k
2007	54%	58%	221k
2006	51%	56%	201k
2005	48%	56%	173k
2004	47%	55%	157k
2003	47%	55%	137k
2002	46%	56%	88k
2001	51%	57%	57k
2000	53%	59%	40k
1999	59%	61%	16k
1998	57%	63%	9k
1997	56%	64%	7k
1996	57%	65%	5k

Compare two years of the Polo, age for age.

First-time pass rate by age

Share of MOTs at each age that passed first time. Ages with fewer than 10,000 Volkswagen Polo MOTs are left out.

Commonest reasons for failure

Tyre tread below the legal limitOther cars its age: 2.62.7
Wiper does not clear the windscreenOther cars its age: 2.42.5
Suspension arm pin or bush excessively wornOther cars its age: 1.22.3
Position lamp not workingOther cars its age: 2.52.3
Drive shaft CV boot splitOther cars its age: 1.52.3
Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrectOther cars its age: 1.32.1
Coil spring fractured or brokenOther cars its age: 2.52.1
Headlamp not working on dipped beamOther cars its age: 1.62.1

Out of every 100 Volkswagen Polo MOTs, against other cars at the same ages.

Where it comes up more than other cars its age

Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirtFail. Other cars its age: 0.21.1
Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustmentFail. Other cars its age: 0.21.0
Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirtFail. Other cars its age: 0.30.8
Brake lever has insufficient reserve travelFail. Other cars its age: 0.10.7
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limitsFail. Other cars its age: 0.20.6
Other passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicleFail. Other cars its age: 0.10.4

Out of every 100 Volkswagen Polo MOTs. Only items noted well above other cars of the same ages.

Miles a year

Typical miles a year between one MOT and the next: 5,500 at 3 years old, 3,500 at 20. Rounded to the nearest 1,000.

Counted from DVSA records of 286,058,652 MOTs, 20 May 2018 to 18 October 2026. A test and its retests count as one MOT, and a fail put right at the test counts as a first-time fail, as the DVSA counts it. About Volkswagen Polos in general, not a prediction for any one car. Spotted a mistake? Email fuzzyreguk@gmail.com.

Check a Volkswagen Polo's MOT history

Every test and advisory, free, from the registration.