2016 Volkswagen Polo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 302,177 MOT tests analysed for the 2016 Volkswagen Polo, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, suspension and tyres. Its pass rate of 84.9% was in line with the average for superminis of a similar age (84.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 25.8% in the 150k+ group versus 8.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.2% | 15,687 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.9% | 14,750 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.5% | 13,708 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.3% | 12,924 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 10,622 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 4,772 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 12,358 |
| 2 | Wipers | 9,247 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 7,367 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 6,940 |
| 5 | Washers | 5,736 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 5,632 |
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 | 25.4% | 76,820 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.6% | 62,208 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.6% | 38,183 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.7% | 17,210 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 10,056 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 5,634 |
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 | 67,398 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 151,809 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 67,364 | 20.0% |
| 90-120k | 13,324 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,868 | 23.7% |
| 150k+ | 399 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 289,058 | 14.9% |
| Diesel | 13,118 | 20.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 58,108 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 59,410 | 13.1% |
| 2023 | 60,956 | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 61,471 | 17.2% |
| 2025 | 62,232 | 18.1% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Polo
Before buying a 2016 Volkswagen Polo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 5.2% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (5.2% 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 (4.9% 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.
- Tyres (4.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2016 Volkswagen Polos pass their MOT?
84.9% of the 302,177 2016 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Volkswagen Polo?
Brakes, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by suspension (4.9%).
Does the 2016 Polo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 25.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 302,177 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.