2015 Volkswagen Polo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 306,819 MOT tests analysed for the 2015 Volkswagen Polo, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, suspension and tyres. Its pass rate of 83.1% was in line with the average for superminis of a similar age (82.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 26.4% in the 150k+ group versus 9.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 6.4% | 19,664 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.4% | 16,573 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.0% | 15,384 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 13,484 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 12,987 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 7,290 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 11,611 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 8,177 |
| 3 | Wipers | 8,096 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 7,968 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 7,893 |
| 6 | Washers | 6,811 |
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 | 26.9% | 82,627 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.3% | 65,297 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.8% | 48,501 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.2% | 19,040 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 10,242 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 7,570 |
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 | 46,817 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 141,236 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 89,932 | 20.7% |
| 90-120k | 23,913 | 24.2% |
| 120-150k | 4,036 | 25.3% |
| 150k+ | 869 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 282,545 | 16.5% |
| Diesel | 24,274 | 21.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 59,475 | 13.6% |
| 2022 | 60,464 | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 61,760 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 62,344 | 18.8% |
| 2025 | 62,776 | 19.7% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Polo
Before buying a 2015 Volkswagen Polo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 6.4% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (6.4% 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.
- Suspension (5.4% 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.
- Tyres (5.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2015 Volkswagen Polos pass their MOT?
83.1% of the 306,819 2015 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Volkswagen Polo?
Brakes, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by suspension (5.4%).
Does the 2015 Polo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 26.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 306,819 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.