2001 Volkswagen Lupo — MOT failures & pass rate
7,632 MOT tests on the 2001 Volkswagen Lupo are in this dataset, and 73.1% of them passed. That is 1.7 percentage points better than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests against 10.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 637 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.0% in the 0-30k band and 28.5% in the 150k+ band, a 11.5-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 26.8% of the time against 27.6% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 1,104 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.2% | 776 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.8% | 751 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 689 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 582 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.7% | 508 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 637 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 565 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 404 |
| 4 | Wipers | 358 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 307 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 286 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 40.6% | 3,101 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.4% | 2,546 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.1% | 2,071 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.8% | 1,739 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.3% | 1,546 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 1,260 |
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 | 241 | 17.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,416 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,323 | 26.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,901 | 30.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,049 | 31.8% |
| 150k+ | 692 | 28.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,588 | 26.8% |
| Diesel | 1,044 | 27.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,998 | 27.1% |
| 2022 | 1,685 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 1,551 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 1,318 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 1,080 | 25.7% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Lupo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.2% 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.
- Brakes (9.8% 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.
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 2001 Volkswagen Lupos pass their MOT?
73.1% of the 7,632 2001 Volkswagen Lupo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Volkswagen Lupo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by suspension (10.2%).
Does the 2001 Lupo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.0% in the 0-30k band to 28.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,632 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.