2016 Volkswagen Polo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 302,197 MOT tests, the 2016 Volkswagen Polo recorded an 84.9% pass rate. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (15.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (5.2%) and suspension (4.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, wipers and tread depth — pins and bushes alone was recorded 12,360 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.6% in the 0-30k band and 25.8% in the 150k+ band, a 17.2-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 14.9% fail against 20.2% for diesel, a 5.3-point gap across 302,196 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.2% | 15,689 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.9% | 14,752 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.5% | 13,709 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.3% | 12,926 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 10,623 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 4,773 |
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 | 12,360 |
| 2 | Wipers | 9,248 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 7,367 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 6,942 |
| 5 | Washers | 5,737 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 5,633 |
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% | 76,824 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.6% | 62,213 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.6% | 38,187 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.7% | 17,212 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 10,056 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 5,636 |
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 | 67,399 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 151,825 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 67,367 | 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 | 289,078 | 14.9% |
| Diesel | 13,118 | 20.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 58,111 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 59,412 | 13.1% |
| 2023 | 60,958 | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 61,477 | 17.2% |
| 2025 | 62,239 | 18.1% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Polo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 5.2% of tests. Start there.
- 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 302,197 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 302,197 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.