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Volkswagen POLO - 1998

364.3 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1998 is 342.9 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen POLO, model year 1998. Sample size: 491 cars, 1,021 tests and 3,719 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 491 cars

The 1998 Volkswagen Polo has an overall defect rate of 364 per 100 vehicles, which is 7% higher than the average for cars of the same year. Notably, the Polo excels in steering and lights & electrics, with defect rates significantly lower than the average. However, it shows a concerning trend in wheels, suspensions, and axles, where its defect rate is notably higher than the average. Additionally, as mileage increases, defect rates tend to rise more sharply for this model compared to others, particularly in the higher mileage categories.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 491 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
▼ 13.5% worse
169.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 149.4 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
Steering
▲ 60.2% better
10.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.6 / 100 tests
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
Visibility
▲ 2.3% better
25.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.3 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
Lights & Electrics
▲ 28.6% better
47.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 66.7 / 100 tests
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 22.3% worse
315.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 257.8 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
Body/Structure
▲ 14.3% better
69.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 80.5 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • 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
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▼ 10.3% worse
22.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 20.4 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • Seat belt retractor not functioning as intended
  • 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:
Other
▼ 16.6% worse
68.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 59.0 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
  • Emissions test unable to be completed
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 613 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)

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 254
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 219
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 202
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 199
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 190
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 178
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 168
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 153
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 135
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 131

Serious faults (Top 10)

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 90
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
FAIL
Occurrences: 59
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 35
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 35
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: 30
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 30
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 30
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 30
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
FAIL
Occurrences: 28
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 28