Volkswagen Polo reliability and MOT data

Time Period & Model

Time period snapshot: Last 5 years

Manufacturer: Volkswagen

Model: Polo

Model reliability rank
46
MOT-based rank from 3,981,853 selected-period tests.
View More models
Overall MOT pass rate
74.4%
Share of this model's 3,981,853 selected-period MOT tests that pass.
View manufacturers
Efficiency, emissions & tax
Average MPG
52.9 mpg
CO2 emission
121 g/km
Euro emissions
Euro 6
Tax cost
£150/yr
Average vehicle miles
78,151
Moderate average mileage in the current pool.
Life expectancy miles
87,580
Lower mature-fleet mileage expectation.
Average vehicle age
12.9
Comfortable mid-life age pattern.
Market share
1.30%
1.30% share within the active represented vehicle pool.
Vehicles represented
543,067
543,050 valid MOT, 17 under 3 years.
Tests analysed
3,981,853
3,981,853 MOT tests in the selected period.
Rarity ranking
Based on Make & Model
Common
543,067On the road
Insight summary

Volkswagen Polo is a common model in this snapshot, with 543,067 represented vehicles and 1.30% of the active UK pool tracked by AutoRank. For the last 5 years, it has a pass rate of 74.4% from 3,981,853 MOT tests, with a reliability score of 46. The current pool shows an average of 78,151 miles and an average age of 12.9 years, while mature-fleet mileage is estimated at 87,580 miles. Petrol leads the fuel split, followed by diesel, and the most frequent defect themes are parking brake, windscreen damage and engine warning light. The practical read is that the Volkswagen Polo looks like a solid used-car baseline rather than a rare find, with age, mileage and common wear items doing most of the explaining.

Fuel type breakdown (by model)
FuelVehicles
PETROL502,315
DIESEL40,691
OTHER45
LPG8
HYBRID ELECTRIC (CLEAN)7
GAS BI-FUEL1
PETROL92.5%502,315 vehicles
Euro NCAP Safety
NCAP rating
5 / 5
Adult
94%
Children
80%
Pedestrian
70%
Safety systems
70%
Top 25 most common defects (by model)
DefectCount
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))61,320
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))53,975
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))49,369
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))46,543
Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))45,073
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))42,147
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))41,020
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))36,356
Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))36,137
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))35,186
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))33,661
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))32,314
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))31,510
Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))31,471
Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))31,247
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))30,565
Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))30,443
Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))30,310
Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))30,083
Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))29,946
Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))27,964
Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))24,258
Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))22,953
Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))21,392
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))21,215
All 25 defects ranked by recorded countShowing 876,458 defects across this top 25 set
01
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))
7.0% of displayed top 25
61,320
02
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))
6.2% of displayed top 25
53,975
03
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))
5.6% of displayed top 25
49,369
04
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
5.3% of displayed top 25
46,543
05
Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
5.1% of displayed top 25
45,073
06
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))
4.8% of displayed top 25
42,147
07
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))
4.7% of displayed top 25
41,020
08
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))
4.1% of displayed top 25
36,356
09
Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))
4.1% of displayed top 25
36,137
10
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))
4.0% of displayed top 25
35,186
11
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
3.8% of displayed top 25
33,661
12
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
3.7% of displayed top 25
32,314
13
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
3.6% of displayed top 25
31,510
14
Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
3.6% of displayed top 25
31,471
15
Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
3.6% of displayed top 25
31,247
16
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))
3.5% of displayed top 25
30,565
17
Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))
3.5% of displayed top 25
30,443
18
Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))
3.5% of displayed top 25
30,310
19
Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))
3.4% of displayed top 25
30,083
20
Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))
3.4% of displayed top 25
29,946
21
Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))
3.2% of displayed top 25
27,964
22
Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))
2.8% of displayed top 25
24,258
23
Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))
2.6% of displayed top 25
22,953
24
Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))
2.4% of displayed top 25
21,392
25
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))
2.4% of displayed top 25
21,215