2017 Volkswagen Polo — MOT failures & pass rate
264,267 MOT tests on the 2017 Volkswagen Polo are in this dataset, and 86.3% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail at 13.4%, so the 2017 Polo sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in visibility, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.6%) and brakes (4.5%) 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 10,866 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.4% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.7pp more often than petrol ones (18.3% vs 13.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.6% | 12,109 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.5% | 11,766 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.3% | 11,426 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.2% | 11,090 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 8,056 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 2,154 |
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 | 10,866 |
| 2 | Wipers | 9,212 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 5,823 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 5,448 |
| 5 | Washers | 5,012 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 4,564 |
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 | 25.3% | 66,790 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.0% | 50,328 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.8% | 28,479 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.4% | 14,274 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 8,110 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 3,708 |
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 | 88,819 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 130,079 | 15.1% |
| 60-90k | 38,486 | 20.1% |
| 90-120k | 6,036 | 23.3% |
| 120-150k | 679 | 23.3% |
| 150k+ | 156 | 22.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 257,199 | 13.6% |
| Diesel | 7,068 | 18.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 51,091 | 9.9% |
| 2022 | 51,675 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 53,220 | 14.0% |
| 2024 | 53,823 | 16.2% |
| 2025 | 54,458 | 16.8% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Polo
On a 2017 Polo, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (4.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (4.5% 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.
- Tyres (4.3% 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 2017 Volkswagen Polos pass their MOT?
86.3% of the 264,267 2017 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Volkswagen Polo?
Visibility, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by brakes (4.5%).
Does the 2017 Polo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 22.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 264,267 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.