2001 Volkswagen Polo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 32,407 MOT tests analysed for the 2001 Volkswagen Polo, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 71.3% was in line with the average for superminis of a similar age (70.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.8% in the 150k+ group versus 17.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.8% | 6,400 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.9% | 3,527 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.5% | 3,391 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.3% | 3,023 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 2,824 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.9% | 2,227 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 3,623 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 2,567 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 2,095 |
| 4 | Joints | 2,043 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,639 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,612 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 34.6% | 11,204 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.6% | 10,871 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.8% | 9,338 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 28.1% | 9,104 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.7% | 7,034 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 5,818 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,059 | 17.9% |
| 30-60k | 6,808 | 23.8% |
| 60-90k | 10,401 | 28.4% |
| 90-120k | 8,227 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 4,008 | 32.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,834 | 32.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 29,785 | 28.7% |
| Diesel | 2,622 | 28.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,672 | 29.7% |
| 2022 | 7,467 | 28.4% |
| 2023 | 6,216 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 5,013 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 4,039 | 28.1% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Polo
Before buying a 2001 Volkswagen Polo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 19.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (19.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2001 Volkswagen Polos pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 32,407 2001 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Volkswagen Polo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.8% of tests, followed by brakes (10.9%).
Does the 2001 Polo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.9% in the 0-30k band to 32.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 32,407 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.