1983 Volkswagen Polo — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1983 perform at MOT as they age

43 years

Current Age

50.0%

Latest Pass Rate

751

Total Tests (All Years)

67,363 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 1983 Volkswagen Polo as it ages.

26 yrs45.5%

→ ↑5.3%

27 yrs50.8%

→ ↓11.2%

28 yrs39.6%

→ ↑12.6%

29 yrs52.2%

→ ↓1.4%

30 yrs50.8%

→ ↓5.3%

31 yrs45.5%

→ ↑12.2%

32 yrs57.7%

→ ↓9.7%

33 yrs48.0%

→ ↑17.8%

34 yrs65.8%

→ ↓15.8%

35 yrs50.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
26 yrs	45.5%	167
27 yrs	50.8%	122
28 yrs	39.6%	101
29 yrs	52.2%	69
30 yrs	50.8%	65
31 yrs	45.5%	55
32 yrs	57.7%	52
33 yrs	48.0%	50
34 yrs	65.8%	38
35 yrs	50.0%	32

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1983 Volkswagen Polo pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2018 (35 yrs)	50%	32
2017 (34 yrs)	65.8%	38
2016 (33 yrs)	48%	50
2015 (32 yrs)	57.7%	52
2014 (31 yrs)	45.5%	55
2013 (30 yrs)	50.8%	65
2012 (29 yrs)	52.2%	69
2011 (28 yrs)	39.6%	101
2010 (27 yrs)	50.8%	122
2009 (26 yrs)	45.5%	167

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

45.5%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 167Avg Mileage 70,314Top Failure Suspension — 35.3%

2010High Fail Rate

50.8%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 122Avg Mileage 73,380Top Failure Suspension — 34.4%

2011High Fail Rate

39.6%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 101Avg Mileage 70,396Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.6%

2012High Fail Rate

52.2%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 69Avg Mileage 77,813Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.5%

2013High Fail Rate

50.8%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 65Avg Mileage 71,130Top Failure Suspension — 84.6%

2014High Fail Rate

45.5%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 55Avg Mileage 66,420Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 78.2%

2015High Fail Rate

57.7%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 52Avg Mileage 64,019Top Failure Suspension — 76.9%

2016High Fail Rate

48.0%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 50Avg Mileage 70,404Top Failure Suspension — 100.0%

2017

65.8%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 38Avg Mileage 66,596Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 50.0%

2018High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 32Avg Mileage 67,363Top Failure Suspension — 75.0%

MOT results for 1983 Volkswagen Polo by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	26	45.5%	167	70,314	Suspension — 35.3%
2010	27	50.8%	122	73,380	Suspension — 34.4%
2011	28	39.6%	101	70,396	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.6%
2012	29	52.2%	69	77,813	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.5%
2013	30	50.8%	65	71,130	Suspension — 84.6%
2014	31	45.5%	55	66,420	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 78.2%
2015	32	57.7%	52	64,019	Suspension — 76.9%
2016	33	48.0%	50	70,404	Suspension — 100.0%
2017	34	65.8%	38	66,596	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 50.0%
2018	35	50.0%	32	67,363	Suspension — 75.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1983 Volkswagen Polo, with age trends.

Suspension

57.6%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

47.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

45.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

34.4%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

24.6%

↓ Decreases 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	35.3% (26 yrs)	75.0% (35 yrs)	+39.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	28.1% (26 yrs)	59.4% (35 yrs)	+31.3%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	24.0% (26 yrs)	31.3% (35 yrs)	+7.3%	🔴 ↑

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 1983 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2018, covering 751 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.