2002 Volkswagen Polo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 53,866 MOT tests analysed for the 2002 Volkswagen Polo, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 68.2% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (70.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 34.0% in the 150k+ group versus 20.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.8% | 11,185 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.5% | 8,361 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.6% | 5,705 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.4% | 5,598 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 4,847 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.6% | 4,101 |
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 | 6,733 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 5,696 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 3,616 |
| 4 | Washers | 3,124 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 3,084 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 3,076 |
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 | 35.6% | 19,202 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.6% | 17,004 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.0% | 13,990 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.5% | 11,025 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.5% | 8,899 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.9% | 8,042 |
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 | 1,177 | 20.1% |
| 30-60k | 8,186 | 26.4% |
| 60-90k | 16,380 | 30.7% |
| 90-120k | 15,481 | 34.1% |
| 120-150k | 8,332 | 35.2% |
| 150k+ | 4,215 | 34.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 46,965 | 31.9% |
| Diesel | 6,900 | 30.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,822 | 32.6% |
| 2022 | 12,676 | 31.5% |
| 2023 | 10,383 | 31.5% |
| 2024 | 8,336 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 6,649 | 31.1% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Polo
Before buying a 2002 Volkswagen Polo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 20.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (20.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Emissions & environmental (10.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2002 Volkswagen Polos pass their MOT?
68.2% of the 53,866 2002 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Volkswagen Polo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.8% of tests, followed by suspension (15.5%).
Does the 2002 Polo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.1% in the 0-30k band to 34.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 53,866 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.