2007 Volkswagen Polo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 168,764 MOT tests analysed for the 2007 Volkswagen Polo, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 71.3% was in line with the average for superminis of a similar age (72.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 33.7% in the 150k+ group versus 15.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 27,901 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.0% | 20,291 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 18,877 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.6% | 14,542 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 11,006 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 10,667 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 13,458 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 8,840 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 8,677 |
| 4 | Washers | 8,083 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 7,684 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 6,355 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 30.0% | 50,663 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.2% | 45,912 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.3% | 32,499 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.0% | 32,065 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 29,325 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.6% | 21,178 |
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 | 4,186 | 15.5% |
| 30-60k | 26,245 | 21.8% |
| 60-90k | 52,405 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 51,171 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 24,916 | 32.9% |
| 150k+ | 9,677 | 33.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 148,566 | 28.7% |
| Diesel | 20,198 | 29.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 38,124 | 27.6% |
| 2022 | 36,388 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 34,442 | 29.1% |
| 2024 | 31,691 | 29.8% |
| 2025 | 28,119 | 29.7% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Polo
Before buying a 2007 Volkswagen Polo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 16.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.0% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.2% 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 2007 Volkswagen Polos pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 168,764 2007 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Volkswagen Polo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by suspension (12.0%).
Does the 2007 Polo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.5% in the 0-30k band to 33.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 168,764 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.