2021 Polestar Polestar 2 Ev — MOT failures & pass rate
1,348 MOT tests on the 2021 Polestar Polestar 2 Ev are in this dataset, and 90.1% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (8.7% fail rate), the 2021 Polestar 2 Ev comes out 1.2pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and seat belts & restraints.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.9% of tests against 1.1% 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 2021 Polestar 2 Ev fails 7.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.7% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.5 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.9% | 106 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 15 |
| 3 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 11 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.7% | 10 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 7 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 6 |
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 | 10 |
| 4 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 7 |
| 5 | Joints | 7 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 5 |
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 | 19.9% | 268 |
| 2 | Other defects | 4.6% | 62 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.6% | 62 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 42 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 13 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 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 | 502 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 711 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 117 | 7.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 657 | 10.2% |
| 2025 | 690 | 9.6% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Polestar 2 Ev
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.9% 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 (1.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Seat belts & restraints (0.8% of tests): Belt damage or faulty pretensioners — usually straightforward but safety-critical. Typical repair: £50–£300.
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 2021 Polestar Polestar 2 Evs pass their MOT?
90.1% of the 1,348 2021 Polestar Polestar 2 Ev MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Polestar Polestar 2 Ev?
Tyres, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.1%).
Does the 2021 Polestar 2 Ev get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 7.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,348 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.