2020 Polestar Polestar 2 Pilot Ev — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,711 MOT tests, the 2020 Polestar Polestar 2 Pilot Ev recorded an 87.6% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (9.4% fail rate), the 2020 Polestar 2 Pilot Ev comes out 3.0pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.1% of tests against 3.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, tread depth and rear fog lamp — joints alone was recorded 117 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.3% versus 6.6%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.2% of tests failed in 2023 against 14.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.1% | 193 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 95 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 78 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.7% | 18 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.7% | 18 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.3% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 117 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 60 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 56 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 5 | Wipers | 13 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 9 |
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 | 20.4% | 553 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.4% | 146 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.5% | 121 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 80 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 24 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.8% | 21 |
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 | 879 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,424 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 362 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 43 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 855 | 9.2% |
| 2024 | 910 | 12.8% |
| 2025 | 945 | 14.9% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Polestar 2 Pilot Ev
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.1% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.1% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (3.5% 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (2.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2020 Polestar Polestar 2 Pilot Evs pass their MOT?
87.6% of the 2,711 2020 Polestar Polestar 2 Pilot Ev MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Polestar Polestar 2 Pilot Ev?
Tyres, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (3.5%).
Does the 2020 Polestar 2 Pilot Ev get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,711 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.