2019 Volkswagen Polo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Volkswagen Polo passed 89.3% of its 165,082 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail at 10.0%, so the 2019 Polo sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in visibility, steering and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.9%) and steering (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, wipers and headlamp aim — track rod end alone was recorded 7,821 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 12.9% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.9pp more often than petrol ones (13.6% vs 10.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.9% | 8,005 |
| 2 | Steering | 3.6% | 6,014 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.2% | 5,287 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 4,383 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.4% | 2,280 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 1,116 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 7,821 |
| 2 | Wipers | 7,201 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 3,815 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,996 |
| 5 | Washers | 2,882 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,527 |
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 | 19.9% | 32,850 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.4% | 17,135 |
| 3 | Steering | 5.4% | 8,852 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 8,340 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 4,963 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.5% | 4,089 |
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 | 89,672 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 64,943 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 9,459 | 18.8% |
| 90-120k | 859 | 19.8% |
| 120-150k | 112 | 15.2% |
| 150k+ | 31 | 12.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 161,758 | 10.6% |
| Diesel | 3,322 | 13.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,992 | 4.4% |
| 2022 | 39,919 | 6.7% |
| 2023 | 40,240 | 9.2% |
| 2024 | 40,361 | 11.7% |
| 2025 | 42,570 | 15.2% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Polo
On a 2019 Polo, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (4.9% 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.
- Steering (3.6% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- Tyres (3.2% 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 2019 Volkswagen Polos pass their MOT?
89.3% of the 165,082 2019 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Volkswagen Polo?
Visibility, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by steering (3.6%).
Does the 2019 Polo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 12.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 165,082 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.