2002 Volkswagen Lupo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 10,518 MOT tests, the 2002 Volkswagen Lupo recorded a 72.8% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 29.1% of the time, so this is 1.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.4% of all tests — 4.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,001 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.6% in the 0-30k band and 32.5% in the 150k+ band, a 18.0-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.5pp more often than petrol ones (30.3% vs 26.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.1% in 2021 to 26.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 1,618 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.3% | 1,183 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 981 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.7% | 912 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 831 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.2% | 650 |
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 | 1,001 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 759 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 514 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 452 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 441 |
| 6 | Joints | 420 |
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 | 36.8% | 3,874 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.0% | 3,258 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.7% | 2,810 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.7% | 2,175 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 20.0% | 2,100 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 1,676 |
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 | 350 | 14.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,356 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 3,221 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,540 | 30.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,241 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 799 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 9,058 | 26.7% |
| Diesel | 1,460 | 30.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,712 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 2,399 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 2,051 | 26.2% |
| 2024 | 1,822 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 1,534 | 26.0% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Lupo
On a 2002 Lupo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.3% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (9.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2002 Volkswagen Lupos pass their MOT?
72.8% of the 10,518 2002 Volkswagen Lupo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Volkswagen Lupo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by suspension (11.3%).
Does the 2002 Lupo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 0-30k band to 32.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,518 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.