2021 Volkswagen Polo United Evo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,575 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Volkswagen Polo United Evo, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 93.0% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 5.3% | 83 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.0% | 48 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 26 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.2% | 19 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 8 |
| 6 | Steering | 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 | Wipers | 93 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 3 | Washers | 21 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 14 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 9 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 6 |
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 | 24.0% | 378 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.3% | 115 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.8% | 92 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 53 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.1% | 33 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 20 |
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 | 1,143 | 5.6% |
| 30-60k | 414 | 11.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 47 | 4.3% |
| 2024 | 743 | 6.1% |
| 2025 | 785 | 8.2% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Polo United Evo
Before buying a 2021 Volkswagen Polo United Evo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 5.3% of tests for this year.
- Visibility (5.3% 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 (3.0% 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 (1.7% 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 2021 Volkswagen Polo United Evos pass their MOT?
93.0% of the 1,575 2021 Volkswagen Polo United Evo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen Polo United Evo?
Visibility, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by tyres (3.0%).
Does the 2021 Polo United Evo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.6% in the 0-30k band to 11.1% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,575 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.