2009 Volkswagen Polo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 162,337 MOT tests, the 2009 Volkswagen Polo recorded a 72.4% pass rate. That is 1.5 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 26.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.9%) and suspension (14.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, linkage ball joint dust cover and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 8,560 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.7% in the 0-30k band and 32.6% in the 150k+ band, a 18.9-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.2% fail against 30.3% for diesel, a 3.1-point gap across 162,337 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 24,269 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.2% | 22,986 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.5% | 15,402 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 9,380 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 8,857 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.2% | 8,460 |
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 | 8,560 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 7,786 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 6,939 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 6,573 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 6,195 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 6,150 |
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 | 29.0% | 47,065 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.5% | 46,294 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.5% | 30,036 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 24,125 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 21,092 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.2% | 18,117 |
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 | 6,715 | 13.7% |
| 30-60k | 34,026 | 21.4% |
| 60-90k | 56,504 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 42,730 | 31.8% |
| 120-150k | 16,625 | 33.2% |
| 150k+ | 5,646 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 139,920 | 27.2% |
| Diesel | 22,417 | 30.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34,137 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 33,737 | 26.5% |
| 2023 | 33,070 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 31,666 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 29,727 | 29.3% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Polo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.9% 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.
- Brakes (9.5% 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 2009 Volkswagen Polos pass their MOT?
72.4% of the 162,337 2009 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volkswagen Polo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.9% of tests, followed by suspension (14.2%).
Does the 2009 Polo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.7% in the 0-30k band to 32.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 162,337 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.