2020 Volkswagen Polo S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 5,340 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Volkswagen Polo S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 93.4% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 10.5% in the 60-90k group versus 5.3% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

5,340

MOT tests analysed

6.6%

Fail rate

better than

vs cars of similar age

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2020 Volkswagen Polo S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Visibility	3.2%	171
2	Tyres	2.9%	155
3	Lighting & signalling	2.1%	111
4	Brakes	1.1%	56
5	Seat belts & restraints	0.8%	42
6	Suspension	0.6%	30

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2020 Volkswagen Polo S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Wipers	158
2	Headlamp aim	104
3	Washers	48
4	Tread depth	41
5	Brake pads	37
6	Coil spring	24

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2020 Volkswagen Polo S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	21.7%	1,161
2	Brakes	8.3%	444
3	Other defects	4.5%	239
4	Steering	3.5%	188
5	Visibility	2.8%	147
6	Suspension	1.0%	51

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2020 Polo S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	3,976	5.3%
30-60k	1,260	10.6%
60-90k	95	10.5%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2020 Polo S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	1,751	5.1%
2024	1,765	6.3%
2025	1,811	8.5%

What to check before buying a 2020 Polo S-A

Before buying a 2020 Volkswagen Polo S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 3.2% of tests for this year.

Visibility (3.2% 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.
Tyres (2.9% 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 (2.1% 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 Volkswagen Polo S-As pass their MOT?

93.4% of the 5,340 2020 Volkswagen Polo S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.6% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Polo S-A?

Visibility, recorded in 3.2% of tests, followed by tyres (2.9%).

Does the 2020 Polo S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 10.5% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 5,340 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.