2023 Polestar Polestar 2 Ev Fwd — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2023 Polestar Polestar 2 Ev Fwd passed 94.4% of its 1,541 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (5.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests against 0.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 18 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2023 Polestar 2 Ev Fwd fails 3.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 5.9% at 60-90k, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 13.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.2% | 80 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 11 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.5% | 8 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 4 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.1% | 2 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 18 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 3 | Wipers | 7 |
| 4 | Washers | 3 |
| 5 | Horn | 2 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 2 |
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 | 13.0% | 201 |
| 2 | Other defects | 5.5% | 85 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.5% | 23 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.8% | 12 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 8 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 5 |
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 | 438 | 3.0% |
| 30-60k | 857 | 6.9% |
| 60-90k | 221 | 5.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 429 | 3.7% |
| 2025 | 1,111 | 6.3% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Polestar 2 Ev Fwd
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (0.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2023 Polestar Polestar 2 Ev Fwds pass their MOT?
94.4% of the 1,541 2023 Polestar Polestar 2 Ev Fwd MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Polestar Polestar 2 Ev Fwd?
Tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (0.7%).
Does the 2023 Polestar 2 Ev Fwd get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.0% in the 0-30k band to 5.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,541 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.