Volkswagen Polo S 70 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,595 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 20.4%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Volkswagen Polo S 70 MOT Reliability Overview
The Volkswagen Polo S 70 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,595 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 6 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.6% and a failure rate of 20.4%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Volkswagen Polo S 70 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Volkswagen Polo S 70 presents for MOT with approximately 31,211 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2012 models achieve the highest pass rate at 82.9%, while 2009 models have the lowest at 74.4%. This 8.5 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Volkswagen Polo S 70 is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 13.0% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Tyres at 12.7%. Driver's View of the Road rounds out the top three at 7.6%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 13.1% | 209 |
| 2 | Tyres | 12.7% | 203 |
| 3 | Driver's View Of The Road | 7.8% | 124 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.6% | 90 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.7% | 75 |
| 6 | Registration Plates And Vin | 0.8% | 13 |
| 7 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 0.6% | 9 |
| 8 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.5% | 8 |
| 9 | Steering | 0.4% | 6 |
| 10 | Non-component Advisories | 0.3% | 5 |
| 11 | Road Wheels | 0.2% | 3 |
| 12 | Body, Structure And General Items | 0.1% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 31,211 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
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| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 4.20 | 13.1% | 209 |
| Tyres | 4.08 | 12.7% | 203 |
| Visibility | 2.49 | 7.8% | 124 |
| Brakes | 1.81 | 5.6% | 90 |
| Suspension | 1.51 | 4.7% | 75 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.26 | 0.8% | 13 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.18 | 0.6% | 9 |
| Seat Belts | 0.16 | 0.5% | 8 |
| Steering | 0.12 | 0.4% | 6 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.10 | 0.3% | 5 |
| Wheels | 0.06 | 0.2% | 3 |
| Body & Structure | 0.04 | 0.1% | 2 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Volkswagen Polo S 70 has 31,211 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Volkswagen Polo S 70 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 6.54% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Volkswagen Polo S 70 MOT Data
The Volkswagen Polo S 70 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,595 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 6 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.6% and a failure rate of 20.4%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Volkswagen Polo S 70 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and tyres for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Polo S 70 is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.0% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 13.0% of MOT failures on the Volkswagen Polo S 70. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Tyres — 12.7% of failures
Tyres issues account for 12.7% of MOT failures on the Volkswagen Polo S 70. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Driver's View of the Road — 7.6% of failures
Driver's View of the Road issues account for 7.6% of MOT failures on the Volkswagen Polo S 70. Driver's View of the Road issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen Polo S 70?
Based on 1,595 MOT tests in our database, the Volkswagen Polo S 70 has an overall pass rate of 79.6% (20.4% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Polo S 70?
The top 3 reasons a Volkswagen Polo S 70 fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (13.0%), 2. Tyres (12.7%), 3. Driver's View of the Road (7.6%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Volkswagen Polo S 70 reliable?
With a 20.4% MOT failure rate, the Polo S 70 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Volkswagen Polo S 70?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (13.0%); Tyres (12.7%); Driver's View of the Road (7.6%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.