1982 Volkswagen Polo — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1982 perform at MOT as they age

44 years

Current Age

56.8%

Latest Pass Rate

601

Total Tests (All Years)

79,102 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1982 Volkswagen Polo as it ages.

27 yrs62.8%

→ ↓12.3%

28 yrs50.5%

→ ↓4.8%

29 yrs45.7%

→ ↓1.9%

30 yrs43.8%

→ ↑3.7%

31 yrs47.5%

→ ↑7.6%

32 yrs55.1%

→ ↓1.4%

33 yrs53.7%

→ ↓2.3%

34 yrs51.4%

→ ↑5.4%

35 yrs56.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
27 yrs	62.8%	129
28 yrs	50.5%	95
29 yrs	45.7%	81
30 yrs	43.8%	73
31 yrs	47.5%	59
32 yrs	55.1%	49
33 yrs	53.7%	41
34 yrs	51.4%	37
35 yrs	56.8%	37

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1982 Volkswagen Polo pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (35 yrs)	56.8%	37
2016 (34 yrs)	51.4%	37
2015 (33 yrs)	53.7%	41
2014 (32 yrs)	55.1%	49
2013 (31 yrs)	47.5%	59
2012 (30 yrs)	43.8%	73
2011 (29 yrs)	45.7%	81
2010 (28 yrs)	50.5%	95
2009 (27 yrs)	62.8%	129

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

62.8%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 129Avg Mileage 73,102Top Failure Suspension — 23.3%

2010High Fail Rate

50.5%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 95Avg Mileage 73,283Top Failure Suspension — 28.4%

2011High Fail Rate

45.7%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 81Avg Mileage 74,513Top Failure Brakes — 33.3%

2012High Fail Rate

43.8%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 73Avg Mileage 75,428Top Failure Brakes — 35.6%

2013High Fail Rate

47.5%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 59Avg Mileage 77,494Top Failure Suspension — 83.1%

2014High Fail Rate

55.1%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 49Avg Mileage 75,036Top Failure Suspension — 51.0%

2015High Fail Rate

53.7%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 41Avg Mileage 77,489Top Failure Suspension — 75.6%

2016High Fail Rate

51.4%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 37Avg Mileage 77,432Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 70.3%

2017High Fail Rate

56.8%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 37Avg Mileage 79,102Top Failure Suspension — 83.8%

MOT results for 1982 Volkswagen Polo by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	27	62.8%	129	73,102	Suspension — 23.3%
2010	28	50.5%	95	73,283	Suspension — 28.4%
2011	29	45.7%	81	74,513	Brakes — 33.3%
2012	30	43.8%	73	75,428	Brakes — 35.6%
2013	31	47.5%	59	77,494	Suspension — 83.1%
2014	32	55.1%	49	75,036	Suspension — 51.0%
2015	33	53.7%	41	77,489	Suspension — 75.6%
2016	34	51.4%	37	77,432	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 70.3%
2017	35	56.8%	37	79,102	Suspension — 83.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1982 Volkswagen Polo, with age trends.

Suspension

52.4%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

47.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

42.8%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

19.9%

— Consistent

Driver's View of the Road

18.0%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	23.3% (27 yrs)	83.8% (35 yrs)	+60.5%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	20.2% (27 yrs)	62.2% (35 yrs)	+42.0%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	17.1% (27 yrs)	43.2% (35 yrs)	+26.1%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	10.1% (27 yrs)	18.9% (35 yrs)	+8.8%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	10.1% (27 yrs)	10.8% (35 yrs)	+0.7%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volkswagen Polo page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Polo cars manufactured in 1982 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 601 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.