2004 Volkswagen Polo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 107,628 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Volkswagen Polo, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 68.6% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (70.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 35.0% in the 150k+ group versus 19.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.3% | 22,905 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.2% | 15,236 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 11,416 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.2% | 10,943 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.9% | 9,555 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.0% | 7,505 |
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 | 14,437 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 7,583 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 7,405 |
| 4 | Joints | 7,376 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 6,121 |
| 6 | Washers | 5,520 |
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 | 31.1% | 33,418 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.9% | 33,270 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.3% | 25,050 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.5% | 21,008 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.9% | 19,296 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.3% | 16,439 |
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 | 2,108 | 19.9% |
| 30-60k | 14,883 | 24.8% |
| 60-90k | 31,660 | 30.1% |
| 90-120k | 31,979 | 33.3% |
| 120-150k | 17,788 | 35.5% |
| 150k+ | 9,132 | 35.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 87,861 | 31.1% |
| Diesel | 19,764 | 32.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28,868 | 31.3% |
| 2022 | 24,708 | 31.1% |
| 2023 | 21,460 | 31.6% |
| 2024 | 17,976 | 31.8% |
| 2025 | 14,616 | 31.4% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Polo
Before buying a 2004 Volkswagen Polo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 21.3% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (21.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.2% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.6% 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+.
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 2004 Volkswagen Polos pass their MOT?
68.6% of the 107,628 2004 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Volkswagen Polo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.3% of tests, followed by suspension (14.2%).
Does the 2004 Polo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.9% in the 0-30k band to 35.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 107,628 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.