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Volkswagen POLO - 2021

80.2 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2021 is 80.0 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen POLO, model year 2021. Sample size: 31,607 cars, 67,206 tests and 53,907 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 31,607 cars

The 2021 Volkswagen Polo shows an overall defect rate of 80 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly higher than the yearly average of 79 per 100, indicating a 2% increase in defects compared to similar models. Notably, the Polo stands out positively in categories such as brakes, lights and electrics, and body structure, with significantly lower defect rates than average. However, it performs worse in steering and visibility, with defect rates 518% and 28% higher than the average, respectively. Mileage-related trends reveal that defect rates tend to increase with mileage, particularly in higher mileage brackets. Overall, while the Polo excels in some areas, it has specific issues that potential buyers should consider.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 31,607 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

Other models from Volkswagen

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Categories

Brakes
▲ 30.0% better
28.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 40.0 / 100 tests
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
  • Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▼ 542.9% worse
4.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 0.7 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▼ 28.3% worse
18.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.5 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • 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
Lights & Electrics
▲ 49.1% better
5.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.2 / 100 tests
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Lamp not securely attached
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 15.3% worse
100.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 87.3 / 100 tests
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
Body/Structure
▲ 76.2% better
0.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.1 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • A driver’s seat: fore and aft adjustment mechanism not working as intended
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • A main load-bearing structural member: fractured or deformed such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced
  • A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
Equipment
▼ 20.0% worse
1.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 1.5 / 100 tests
  • Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type
Other
▲ 74.1% better
0.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.7 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
  • Emission control equipment fitted by the manufacturer: missing, obviously modified or obviously defective

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 268 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)

A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 15,962
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 13,015
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,390
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,472
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,981
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,816
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 1,395
Wiper blade: defective
MINOR
Occurrences: 1,267
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
PRS
Occurrences: 1,228
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,114

Serious faults (Top 10)

Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,816
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 979
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 672
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 588
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 458
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 454
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 170
Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
FAIL
Occurrences: 123
Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type
FAIL
Occurrences: 120
Lamp not securely attached
FAIL
Occurrences: 113