2014 Volkswagen Polo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Volkswagen Polo passed 80.9% of its 270,605 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (19.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.5%) and brakes (6.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 11,900 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.1% versus 9.9%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.7% fail against 22.6% for diesel, a 3.8-point gap across 270,601 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 25,779 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.6% | 17,932 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.6% | 17,892 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.2% | 14,177 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 11,951 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 7,874 |
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 | 11,900 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 10,493 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 8,711 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 8,092 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 7,184 |
| 6 | Washers | 7,038 |
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 | 27.0% | 73,116 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.2% | 57,262 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.6% | 50,310 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.4% | 22,766 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 15,768 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 9,451 |
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 | 27,339 | 9.9% |
| 30-60k | 109,266 | 16.5% |
| 60-90k | 93,589 | 22.0% |
| 90-120k | 32,615 | 25.6% |
| 120-150k | 6,455 | 27.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,323 | 26.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 243,201 | 18.7% |
| Diesel | 27,400 | 22.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 52,748 | 16.2% |
| 2022 | 53,138 | 17.2% |
| 2023 | 54,541 | 19.8% |
| 2024 | 54,805 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 55,373 | 21.5% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Polo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.6% 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.
- Suspension (6.6% 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.
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 2014 Volkswagen Polos pass their MOT?
80.9% of the 270,605 2014 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Volkswagen Polo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by brakes (6.6%).
Does the 2014 Polo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.9% in the 0-30k band to 26.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 270,605 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.