Used Volkswagen Polo buying guide: MOT data and checks

At a glance

• On UK roads: 685,291 licensed cars (2026 Q2), up from 678,179 in 2021 Q2
• MOT pass rate (first test, 2025): 67.4% (-3.1 pts vs all cars of the same age)
• Tests analysed: 632,066
• Recall campaigns: 24 since 1992

Pass rate by year of first use

Where they fail

Failure area shares for Volkswagen Polo tests in 2025 are based on an n of 632066 tests.

• Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: 12.6% of initial tests
• Suspension: 11.2% of initial tests
• Brakes: 8.1% of initial tests
• Tyres: 6.1% of initial tests
• Visibility: 5% of initial tests
• Body, chassis, structure: 5% of initial tests
• Noise, emissions and leaks: 4.6% of initial tests
• Steering: 3.6% of initial tests
• Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems: 1.3% of initial tests
• Road Wheels: 0.4% of initial tests
• Identification of the vehicle: 0.3% of initial tests
• Seat belt installation check: 0% of initial tests
• Buses and coaches supplementary tests: 0% of initial tests
• Speedometer and speed limiter: 0% of initial tests

Top failure items

Most common advisories

1. Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (16.27% of tests)
2. Condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (11.41% of tests)
3. Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (9.08% of tests)
4. Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (8.35% of tests)
5. Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil (6.02% of tests)

Typical mileage at MOT

Median recorded at test; individual cars vary.

Fuel mix and fleet

• Petrol: 94%
• Diesel: 6%

685,291 licensed and 52,883 SORN (2026 Q2).

Recalls

24 recall campaigns match this model in the DVSA recalls data (downloaded 2026-10-14).

• 28/08/2025 · Check rear axle bolted connection · build 10/04/2025 to 10/04/2025
• 22/08/2025 · Takata front drivers or passenger airbag replacement · build 08/08/2009 to 11/10/2013
• 09/06/2025 · Replace front passenger airbag · build 09/10/2023 to 28/03/2025
• 13/06/2023 · Takata Front airbag · build 23/06/2006 to 09/12/2009
• 04/10/2022 · THE DRIVER’S AIRBAG MAY NOT CORRECTLY DEPLOY IF ACTIVATED · build 07/11/2006 to 13/12/2007

Recalls apply to specific build ranges. Check a particular car on GOV.UK: Check vehicle recalls (GOV.UK).

Free official checks before you buy

• Check MOT history (GOV.UK, external)
• Vehicle enquiry: tax and MOT status (GOV.UK, external)
• Check vehicle recalls (GOV.UK, external)

Buyer notes

These notes use DVSA anonymised MOT tests for the Volkswagen Polo in the 2025 extracts. Across 632066 tests the pass rate was 67.4%, 3.1 points below the same-age benchmark of 70.6%, with an initial fail rate of 32.6%. MOT data describes test outcomes, not overall vehicle condition.

Failure-area shares were lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment at 12.6% of tests, suspension at 11.2%, brakes at 8.1%, tyres at 6.1%, visibility at 5%, body, chassis, structure at 5%, noise, emissions and leaks at 4.6%, and steering at 3.6%. The most frequent failure items were excessively worn pins or bushes at 2.99%, a position lamp not working at 2.47%, a fractured or broken coil spring at 2.36%, tread depth below 1.6mm at 2.28%, and a track rod end dust cover that no longer keeps out dirt at 2.16%.

Advisories included tyre tread worn close to the legal limit on 16.27% of tests, slight tyre damage, cracking or perishing on 11.41%, and brake discs worn, pitted or scored but not seriously weakened on 9.08%. Median mileage by age includes 20022 miles at age 3 (n 22744), 39195 miles at age 6 (n 36621) and 90649 miles at age 15 (n 35985).

DfT figures for 2026 Q2 show 685291 licensed Polos and 52883 SORN, against 678179 licensed in 2021 Q2. DVSA listed 24 recall campaigns on 2026-10-14. Recalls apply to specific build ranges and may not affect every car of this model. Latest entries include R/2025/385, a check of the rear axle bolted connection for builds from 10/04/2025 to 10/04/2025, and R/2025/357, Takata front drivers or passenger airbag replacement for builds from 08/08/2009 to 11/10/2013. Buyers should check a specific car on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall and review MOT history at https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history. See the MOT data methodology guide: https://checkmyvehicle.co.uk/used-car-model-guides/mot-data-methodology/.

Frequently asked questions

What was the Volkswagen Polo MOT pass rate?

In the 2025 DVSA extracts, the pass rate was 67.4% across 632066 tests, 3.1 points below the same-age benchmark of 70.6%. The initial fail rate was 32.6%.

Which MOT failure areas were most common?

In the 2025 extracts, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment were on 12.6% of tests, suspension on 11.2%, brakes on 8.1% and tyres on 6.1%. The highest item share was pins or bushes excessively worn, at 2.99% of tests.

Do recalls apply to every Polo?

DVSA listed 24 campaigns (source date 2026-10-14). Campaign data only: a recall may not affect every car of this model. Recalls apply to specific build ranges. Check a specific car at https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall.