Volkswagen Polo common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Volkswagen Polo at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 623,734 UK MOT tests of the Volkswagen Polo in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is track rod end (ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt): recorded on 6.1% of tests of 2018–2020 cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km), 61× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) (6×); headlamp (not working on dipped beam) (5.3×); shock absorbers (a serious fluid leak) (8.1×). The most common reasons a Volkswagen Polo fails its MOT are joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt); position lamp (not working); headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Volkswagen Polo
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Volkswagen Polo than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | MOT fail | 2018–2020 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 6.1% | 0.1% | 61× | 16,604 |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | MOT fail | 2015–2017 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 3.6% | 0.6% | 6× | 51,439 |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | MOT fail | 2011–2013 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 3.2% | 0.6% | 5.3× | 12,620 |
| Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak | MOT fail | 2018–2020 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 5.7% | 0.7% | 8.1× | 472 |
| Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | MOT fail | 2003–2005 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 3.9% | 0.6% | 6.5× | 2,095 |
| Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil | Advisory | 2009–2011 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 16% | 3.4% | 4.6× | 24,545 |
| Washers: not working | MOT fail | 2019–2021 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 3.2% | 0.5% | 6.4× | 790 |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened | Advisory | 1997–1999 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 12% | 1.7% | 7× | 303 |
Volkswagen Polo by mileage (2017–2019 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 25,885 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (7.1%) | — |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 60,809 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (13%) | Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (3.3%, 33×) |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 30,479 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (18%) | Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (3.3%, 33×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 7,516 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (21%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (6.2%, 3×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 1,481 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (22%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (8.3%, 3.2×) |
Volkswagen Polo by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 499 | Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (3.9×) |
| 1998 | 626 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (7×) |
| 1999 | 1,177 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (4.3×) |
| 2000 | 3,105 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (3.7×) |
| 2001 | 4,739 | Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (3.3×) |
| 2002 | 7,597 | Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (3.3×) |
| 2003 | 12,856 | Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (3×) |
| 2004 | 15,638 | Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (6.5×) |
| 2005 | 18,025 | Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (5.1×) |
| 2006 | 22,550 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (3.8×) |
| 2007 | 25,454 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (3.6×) |
| 2008 | 27,195 | Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (3.4×) |
| 2009 | 24,562 | Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (3.7×) |
| 2010 | 38,820 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (4.7×) |
| 2011 | 40,582 | Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (5.5×) |
| 2012 | 37,712 | Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (5.9×) |
| 2013 | 38,797 | Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (5.4×) |
| 2014 | 44,269 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (3.4×) |
| 2015 | 51,568 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (4.6×) |
| 2016 | 51,851 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (6×) |
| 2017 | 46,092 | Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (15×) |
| 2018 | 43,781 | Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (33×) |
| 2019 | 36,691 | Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (81×) |
| 2020 | 26,514 | Washers: not working at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (6.4×) |
| 2021 | 1,227 | Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (2×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Volkswagen Polo?
In 623,734 UK MOT tests of the Volkswagen Polo in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is track rod end (ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt): recorded on 6.1% of tests of 2018–2020 cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km), 61× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) (6×); headlamp (not working on dipped beam) (5.3×); shock absorbers (a serious fluid leak) (8.1×). The most common reasons a Volkswagen Polo fails its MOT are joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt); position lamp (not working); headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect).
Why do Volkswagen Polos fail the MOT?
Across 623,734 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Volkswagen Polo were joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) (8.2% of tests); position lamp (not working) (8.3% of tests); headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect) (9.7% of tests).
At what mileage do Volkswagen Polo problems start?
The clearest Volkswagen Polo-specific issue, track rod end (ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt), peaks against other cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) on 2018–2020 cars (6.1% of tests vs 0.1% for all cars that age).
Where does this Volkswagen Polo data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 623,734 tests of the Volkswagen Polo. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.