Volkswagen Polo Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Volkswagen Polo passes its MOT first time on 66.8% of tests, against 70.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. It beats only 27% of cars on UK roads. Among small hatchbacks the Honda Jazz, Audi A1, MINI, Toyota Yaris and Škoda Fabia do better; the Ford Fiesta is level, and the Vauxhall Corsa and Renault Clio do worse.

It matches a typical car at its first MOT but falls behind with age: 3–5 percentage points behind a typical car of the same age and mileage from 5 to 13 years old, and about 7 behind at 16–18.

The best years are cars from 2020 on, which beat about half of cars, with 2022 cars beating about eight in ten. Before that, 2015 and 2016 do best of the common years, beating about four in ten. 2002–2009 cars beat only about one in four.

2018 and 2019 cars do worst, beating only about one in eight: track rod ends fail on about 1 in 14 of their tests, nearly 19 times the typical rate.

Watch these weak spots

Body & structure1.5×as often as a typical car

Emissions & leaks1.5×as often as a typical car

Headlight aim1.5×as often as a typical car

Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2.3×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Volkswagen PoloTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 5%

Beats 27%

Beats 30%

Beats 9%

Beats 20%

Beats 15%

Beats 20%

Beats 22%

Beats 28%

Beats 45%

Beats 34%

Beats 30%

Beats 20%

Beats 22%

Beats 22%

Beats 21%

Beats 26%

Beats 31%

Beats 29%

Beats 29%

Beats 33%

Beats 26%

Beats 29%

Beats 21%

Beats 22%

Beats 40%

Beats 41%

Beats 24%

Beats 13%

Beats 12%

Beats 39%

Beats 46%

Beats 80%

Beats 68%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	2002–2018	2,337,096	64.6%	Beats 26%	D
1.0 Petrol	1990–2023	1,174,371	79.3%	Beats 18%	E
1.4 Petrol	1996–2017	1,141,246	61.4%	Beats 34%	D
1.4 Diesel	2000–2017	259,788	56.8%	Beats 28%	D
1.2 Diesel	2010–2014	128,063	59.1%	Beats 17%	E
1.8 Petrol	2006–2017	64,469	79.9%	Beats 66%	B
1.6 Diesel	2009–2019	54,844	60.1%	Beats 32%	D
1.9 Diesel	2000–2008	50,824	47.6%	Beats 34%	D
2.0 Petrol	2018–2022	32,856	87.4%	Beats 63%	B
1.6 Petrol	1997–2008	16,252	56.4%	Beats 43%	C
1.3 Petrol	1991–1995	3,987	62.1%	Beats 32%	D

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Lights: 14.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

14.4% vs 11.8%

Suspension

10.4% vs 9.2%

Brakes

8.4% vs 6.9%

Tyres

6.5% vs 6.2%

Visibility

6.1% vs 5.0%

Body & structure

5.2% vs 3.5%

Emissions & leaks

4.8% vs 3.1%

Steering

2.3% vs 1.8%

Seat belts & airbags

1.2% vs 1.1%

Wheels

0.3% vs 0.3%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Headlight aim
The Polo's most common MOT fail, on about 1 in 21 tests (1.5 times the typical rate). Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
Track rod ends
On 2018–2019 cars they fail on about 1 in 14 tests, nearly 19 times the typical rate, and about 7 times on cars from 2020 on. Feel for knocking or play in the steering and look for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres.
CV joints and dust covers
On 2002–2009 cars, drive shaft (CV) joints fail on about 1 in 16 tests (about 2.5 times the typical rate) and ball joint dust covers on about 1 in 17 (about twice). Look behind the front wheels for split rubber boots and listen for clicking on full lock.
Suspension bushes and shock absorbers
On 2010–2017 cars, suspension arm bushes and shock absorbers both fail about 2.7 times as often as on a typical car. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle.
Handbrake
Fails about 1.5 times as often as on a typical car, and twice as often on 2010–2017 cars. Check it holds the car on a steep slope.
Exhaust emissions
Catalyst emissions fail about 2.3 times as often as on a typical car. Check past MOT emissions readings and look for smoke or rough running.
Lights
Headlight bulbs fail about 1.5 times as often as on a typical car, and number plate lights about twice as often on 2010–2017 cars. Walk around with all the lights on.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Volkswagen PoloTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Headlight aim	4.9%	3.3%	1.5×
Tyre damage & cracking	3.4%	3.4%	1.0×
Headlight bulbs & units	3.2%	2.2%	1.5×
Windscreen washers	3.1%	2.2%	1.4×
Sidelights	2.8%	2.7%	1.0×
Tyre tread depth	2.7%	2.4%	1.1×
Windscreen wipers	2.5%	2.5%	1.0×
Suspension arm bushes	2.3%	1.1%	2.1×
Exhaust emissions (catalyst)	2.2%	1.0%	2.3×
Drive shaft (CV) joints	2.2%	1.4%	1.6×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	48.5
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	34.7
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	31.1
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	26.8
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	26.4
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	24.1
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	22.9
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	22.5

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2023 Volkswagen Polo1 engine90.7% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	7,643	90.7%	Beats 68%	B

2022 Volkswagen Polo2 engines91.6% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	38,327	91.5%	Beats 79%	B
2.0 Petrol	2,801	92.9%	Beats 94%	A

2021 Volkswagen Polo2 engines88.0% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	83,344	88.0%	Beats 45%	C
2.0 Petrol	2,340	90.9%	Beats 83%	A

2020 Volkswagen Polo2 engines86.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	94,345	86.8%	Beats 37%	D
2.0 Petrol	6,831	88.5%	Beats 67%	B

2019 Volkswagen Polo3 engines82.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	157,329	82.0%	Beats 10%	E
2.0 Petrol	17,118	85.9%	Beats 53%	C
1.6 Diesel	3,466	78.5%	Beats 13%	E

2018 Volkswagen Polo4 engines81.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	246,352	80.9%	Beats 13%	E
2.0 Petrol	3,766	85.7%	Beats 65%	B
1.2 Petrol	2,482	81.1%	Beats 12%	E
1.6 Diesel	1,700	77.6%	Beats 13%	E

2017 Volkswagen Polo5 engines80.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	182,882	82.5%	Beats 35%	D
1.0 Petrol	100,843	78.2%	Beats 9%	E
1.8 Petrol	14,613	82.1%	Beats 48%	C
1.4 Diesel	7,970	74.5%	Beats 12%	E
1.4 Petrol	7,540	80.1%	Beats 19%	E

2016 Volkswagen Polo5 engines80.4% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol report →	209,333	82.2%	Beats 53%	C
1.0 Petrol	136,981	78.2%	Beats 22%	D
1.8 Petrol	28,030	82.4%	Beats 66%	B
1.4 Diesel	16,700	73.1%	Beats 15%	E
1.4 Petrol	13,796	81.7%	Beats 53%	C

2015 Volkswagen Polo5 engines78.3% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	215,255	81.6%	Beats 61%	B
1.0 Petrol	175,213	75.1%	Beats 18%	E
1.4 Diesel	34,644	72.7%	Beats 24%	D
1.4 Petrol	16,200	79.4%	Beats 57%	C
1.8 Petrol	13,795	82.2%	Beats 75%	B

2014 Volkswagen Polo6 engines72.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	188,160	72.4%	Beats 24%	D
1.0 Petrol	96,981	71.4%	Beats 16%	E
1.4 Petrol	66,801	74.3%	Beats 30%	D
1.4 Diesel	24,332	70.6%	Beats 31%	D
1.2 Diesel	12,562	62.6%	Beats 7%	E
1.6 Diesel	1,486	68.3%	Beats 24%	D

2013 Volkswagen Polo4 engines67.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	210,300	66.6%	Beats 17%	E
1.4 Petrol	98,070	72.7%	Beats 38%	D
1.2 Diesel	30,414	60.7%	Beats 12%	E
1.6 Diesel	2,964	65.7%	Beats 31%	D

2012 Volkswagen Polo4 engines65.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	192,126	64.8%	Beats 25%	D
1.4 Petrol	98,957	70.2%	Beats 42%	C
1.2 Diesel	35,675	60.0%	Beats 21%	D
1.6 Diesel	3,834	64.7%	Beats 41%	C

2011 Volkswagen Polo4 engines62.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	203,282	60.9%	Beats 23%	D
1.4 Petrol	103,639	66.6%	Beats 38%	D
1.2 Diesel	40,786	56.9%	Beats 21%	D
1.6 Diesel	7,105	59.7%	Beats 32%	D

2010 Volkswagen Polo5 engines60.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	190,181	58.9%	Beats 29%	D
1.4 Petrol	108,839	64.7%	Beats 44%	C
1.6 Diesel	31,294	56.3%	Beats 33%	D
1.2 Diesel	8,626	54.3%	Beats 23%	D
1.4 Diesel	1,914	55.7%	Beats 24%	D

2009 Volkswagen Polo4 engines57.7% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	125,460	56.3%	Beats 23%	D
1.4 Petrol	60,785	63.2%	Beats 46%	C
1.4 Diesel	25,940	51.7%	Beats 23%	D
1.6 Diesel	2,995	53.0%	Beats 26%	D

2008 Volkswagen Polo6 engines55.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	106,857	52.9%	Beats 21%	D
1.4 Petrol	86,347	59.6%	Beats 40%	D
1.4 Diesel	44,041	51.2%	Beats 28%	D
1.6 Petrol	1,957	57.1%	Beats 41%	C
1.9 Diesel	1,520	53.9%	Beats 41%	C
1.8 Petrol	1,105	66.6%	Beats 79%	B

2007 Volkswagen Polo6 engines54.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	108,790	51.5%	Beats 22%	D
1.4 Petrol	89,877	57.9%	Beats 39%	D
1.4 Diesel	25,684	52.4%	Beats 37%	D
1.8 Petrol	2,845	61.4%	Beats 66%	B
1.9 Diesel	2,709	54.8%	Beats 46%	C
1.6 Petrol	2,524	54.5%	Beats 34%	D

2006 Volkswagen Polo6 engines51.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	112,484	48.7%	Beats 19%	E
1.4 Petrol	75,063	54.3%	Beats 33%	D
1.4 Diesel	18,452	48.7%	Beats 31%	D
1.8 Petrol	4,081	63.3%	Beats 76%	B
1.9 Diesel	3,027	53.6%	Beats 50%	C
1.6 Petrol	1,158	48.2%	Beats 17%	E

2005 Volkswagen Polo4 engines47.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	93,311	46.5%	Beats 17%	E
1.4 Petrol	65,991	50.6%	Beats 25%	D
1.4 Diesel	17,568	45.4%	Beats 24%	D
1.9 Diesel	9,135	48.2%	Beats 35%	D

2004 Volkswagen Polo4 engines47.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	70,214	46.7%	Beats 19%	E
1.4 Petrol	66,075	48.7%	Beats 22%	D
1.4 Diesel	17,496	45.1%	Beats 28%	D
1.9 Diesel	15,485	45.3%	Beats 29%	D

2003 Volkswagen Polo4 engines46.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	77,252	47.1%	Beats 22%	D
1.4 Petrol	50,084	47.2%	Beats 19%	E
1.4 Diesel	11,654	45.3%	Beats 30%	D
1.9 Diesel	10,660	45.0%	Beats 30%	D

2002 Volkswagen Polo4 engines46.3% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	48,727	45.5%	Beats 17%	E
1.4 Petrol	34,454	47.0%	Beats 19%	E
1.4 Diesel	7,347	46.7%	Beats 34%	D
1.9 Diesel	5,745	48.1%	Beats 39%	D

2001 Volkswagen Polo5 engines51.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	43,123	51.6%	Beats 29%	D
1.0 Petrol	12,956	48.7%	Beats 23%	D
1.4 Diesel	4,048	50.0%	Beats 43%	C
1.6 Petrol	2,741	55.9%	Beats 57%	C
1.9 Diesel	1,471	50.3%	Beats 44%	C

2000 Volkswagen Polo5 engines52.6% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	26,648	52.7%	Beats 32%	D
1.0 Petrol	12,566	51.4%	Beats 30%	D
1.6 Petrol	2,897	58.2%	Beats 60%	B
1.4 Diesel	1,998	51.8%	Beats 46%	C
1.9 Diesel	1,072	50.5%	Beats 40%	C

1999 Volkswagen Polo3 engines58.9% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	12,432	59.4%	Beats 47%	C
1.0 Petrol	2,547	55.8%	Beats 36%	D
1.6 Petrol	2,429	59.5%	Beats 45%	C

1998 Volkswagen Polo3 engines56.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	7,024	56.8%	Beats 28%	D
1.6 Petrol	1,406	57.5%	Beats 29%	D
1.0 Petrol	1,361	56.1%	Beats 26%	D

1997 Volkswagen Polo3 engines56.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	5,543	57.2%	Beats 25%	D
1.6 Petrol	1,140	56.6%	Beats 25%	D
1.0 Petrol	1,113	50.7%	Beats 9%	E

1996 Volkswagen Polo1 engine56.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	3,958	56.8%	Beats 20%	D

1995 Volkswagen Polo1 engine55.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	1,239	55.4%	Beats 15%	E

1994 Volkswagen Polo1 engine61.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	1,235	61.0%	Beats 20%	D

1993 Volkswagen Polo1 engine55.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	1,824	55.0%	Beats 9%	E

1992 Volkswagen Polo2 engines62.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	1,199	63.7%	Beats 40%	D
1.0 Petrol	1,149	61.2%	Beats 20%	D

1991 Volkswagen Polo2 engines63.6% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	1,549	66.2%	Beats 45%	C
1.0 Petrol	1,148	60.2%	Beats 10%	E

1990 Volkswagen Polo1 engine57.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	1,114	57.9%	Beats 5%	E

FAQ

What is the Volkswagen Polo MOT pass rate?

66.8% of Volkswagen Polo MOT tests were passed first time, from 5.3 million tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 70.8%.

Is the Volkswagen Polo reliable?

On MOT results it is below average: it beats only 27% of cars on UK roads, and it falls further behind a typical car as it gets older. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Volkswagen Polo years are best?

Cars from 2020 on beat about half of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, and 2022 cars about eight in ten. Before that, 2015 and 2016 do best of the common years, beating about four in ten.

Which Volkswagen Polo years should I avoid?

2018 and 2019 cars do worst, beating only about one in eight cars, mainly because of track rod ends. 2002–2009 cars beat only about one in four, with CV joints, ball joint dust covers and catalyst emissions failing well above the typical rate.

Which Volkswagen Polo engine is best?

The GTI engines do best: the 1.8 petrol (2006–2017) and 2.0 petrol (2018–2022) beat about two in three cars. The common 1.2 and 1.4 petrols beat only about a quarter to a third, the 1.0 petrol about one in five, and the 1.2 diesel (2010–2014) does worst, beating about one in six.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Volkswagen Polo?

Headlight aim (about 1 in 21 tests), tyre damage, headlight bulbs and windscreen washers.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Volkswagen Polo reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ