2016 · 8 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2016 Volkswagen Polo MOT pass rate and common faults

48,982 MOT tests in 2024. 75.5% passed first time, compared with 76.6% for all cars the same age.

99About average
Passed first time75.5%
Failed or needed repairs24.5%
Typical mileage at test52,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 48,982 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.6%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
    1,606 marked dangerous
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.6%
    1,021 marked dangerous
  4. Service brake performance: excessively binding1.6%
  5. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.4%
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.4%
  7. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.1%
    727 marked dangerous
  8. Washers: not working1.1%
  9. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.1%
  10. Parking brake control - lever: has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment0.9%

Problem areas

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

  1. Brakes11.1%
  2. Suspension8.6%
  3. Tyres6.4%
  4. Lights & electrics5.8%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.6%
  6. Emissions & leaks3.7%
  7. Body & chassis1.5%
  8. Seat belts & airbags0.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.0%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.3%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure10.8%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.4%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick6.3%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. 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 2016 Volkswagen Polo?

In 2024, 75.5% of 2016 Volkswagen Polo cars passed their MOT first time, across 48,982 tests. The average for all 8-year-old cars was 76.6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2016 Volkswagen Polo?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2016 Volkswagen Polo reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 99, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).