2008 Volkswagen Polo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Volkswagen Polo passed 71.3% of its 180,567 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.6 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 27.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.3% of all tests — 3.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are joints, headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — joints alone was recorded 9,539 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.4% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.1pp more often than petrol ones (30.3% vs 28.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 29,345 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.7% | 22,996 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.7% | 17,417 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 15,733 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 11,266 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.8% | 10,456 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 9,539 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 9,029 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 8,726 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 8,361 |
| 5 | Washers | 7,515 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 7,450 |
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 | 29.8% | 53,838 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.4% | 47,667 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.4% | 35,018 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.3% | 29,430 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 28,240 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.7% | 22,899 |
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 | 4,940 | 15.2% |
| 30-60k | 31,516 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 59,070 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 52,010 | 31.9% |
| 120-150k | 23,899 | 33.1% |
| 150k+ | 9,037 | 33.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 146,313 | 28.3% |
| Diesel | 34,254 | 30.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 39,306 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 38,256 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 36,832 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 34,740 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 31,433 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Polo
On a 2008 Polo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.7% 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 (9.7% 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 2008 Volkswagen Polos pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 180,567 2008 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Volkswagen Polo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by suspension (12.7%).
Does the 2008 Polo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 0-30k band to 33.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 180,567 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.