2013 Volkswagen Polo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Volkswagen Polo passed 79.1% of its 241,218 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail at 21.2%, so the 2013 Polo sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.8% of all tests — 4.9 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 13,335 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.4% once past 150k — 2.9× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.1pp more often than petrol ones (25.5% vs 20.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 30,841 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.9% | 19,081 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.1% | 17,024 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.2% | 12,636 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 10,892 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 6,840 |
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 | 13,335 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 11,140 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 8,102 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 7,811 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 6,897 |
| 6 | Washers | 6,668 |
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 | 26.9% | 64,980 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.8% | 50,163 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.5% | 49,578 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.2% | 27,105 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 19,332 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 13,046 |
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 | 17,516 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 81,837 | 17.0% |
| 60-90k | 91,962 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 39,166 | 27.0% |
| 120-150k | 8,754 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,954 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 216,783 | 20.4% |
| Diesel | 24,420 | 25.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 47,120 | 18.1% |
| 2022 | 47,499 | 19.1% |
| 2023 | 48,774 | 21.6% |
| 2024 | 49,088 | 22.6% |
| 2025 | 48,737 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Polo
On a 2013 Polo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.9% 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 (7.1% 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 2013 Volkswagen Polos pass their MOT?
79.1% of the 241,218 2013 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volkswagen Polo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.8% of tests, followed by suspension (7.9%).
Does the 2013 Polo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 29.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 241,218 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.