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Volkswagen POLO - 1990

315.5 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1990 is 257.0 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen POLO, model year 1990. Sample size: 189 cars, 336 tests and 1,060 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 189 cars

The 1990 Volkswagen Polo has a higher overall defect rate, with 315 defects per 100 vehicles compared to the yearly average of 256 defects per 100 vehicles, reflecting a 23% increase. Notably, the Polo performs significantly better in the steering category, with only 12.5% defects compared to the average of 25.23%. However, it shows worse performance in several areas, including brakes, visibility, and lights & electrics, where it exceeds the average defect rates by notable margins. Mileage trends indicate that defect rates increase with mileage, particularly peaking in the 62,000–93,000 miles range for this model. Overall, the Polo exhibits a mixed performance, with strengths in steering but significant weaknesses in essential safety and visibility components.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 189 cars

More model years for Volkswagen POLO

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

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Categories

Brakes
▼ 27.5% worse
129.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 101.8 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
Steering
▲ 51.2% better
12.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.6 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • A steering ball joint: worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Excessive roughness in operation of steering
Visibility
▼ 32.1% worse
28.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 21.2 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▼ 42.9% worse
83.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 58.7 / 100 tests
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
  • A battery insecure: but not likely to fall from carrier
  • A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 27.5% worse
225.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 177.0 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
  • A wheel bearing: excessively rough
Body/Structure
▼ 31.8% worse
82.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 62.3 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▼ 2.5% worse
16.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 15.7 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • Audible warning:
  • A seat belt:
Other
▼ 2.5% worse
53.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 51.7 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions test unable to be completed
  • Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Exhaust emits excessive dense blue or clearly visible black smoke during acceleration which would obscure the view of other road users

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 482 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 84
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 62
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 51
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 48
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 40
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 33
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 32
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
MINOR
Occurrences: 30
A wheel bearing: excessively rough
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 28
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 26

Serious faults (Top 10)

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 26
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
FAIL
Occurrences: 18
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 14
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
A wheel bearing: excessively rough
FAIL
Occurrences: 11