2013 · 11 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2013 Volkswagen Polo MOT pass rate and common faults

38,060 MOT tests in 2024. 63.6% passed first time, compared with 66.8% for all cars the same age.

95Below average
Passed first time63.6%
Failed or needed repairs36.4%
Typical mileage at test71,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 38,060 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.3%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.8%
  3. Service brake performance: excessively binding2.8%
  4. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.7%
  5. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.7%
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.3%
  7. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.3%
    1,279 marked dangerous
  8. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps1.9%
  9. Position lamp: not working1.7%
  10. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases1.6%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics22.3%
  2. Brakes16.3%
  3. Suspension14.3%
  4. Tyres7.3%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.6%
  6. Emissions & leaks5.4%
  7. Body & chassis4.8%
  8. Steering1.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.2%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure11.6%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.9%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.6%
  5. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak7.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2013 Volkswagen Polo?

In 2024, 63.6% of 2013 Volkswagen Polo cars passed their MOT first time, across 38,060 tests. The average for all 11-year-old cars was 66.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2013 Volkswagen Polo?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; coil spring: fractured or broken; service brake performance: excessively binding. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2013 Volkswagen Polo reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 95, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).