Volkswagen Polo: brakes MOT failures
Brakes was a recorded failure area in 6.8% of Volkswagen Polo MOT tests in this dataset. It is most prominent on 2000, 2001 cars.
Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair cost: £100–£350 per axle (rough UK ballpark, not a quote).
Brakes failures by year
| Model year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 21,588 | 11.3% |
| 2001 | 32,407 | 10.9% |
| 2002 | 53,866 | 10.4% |
| 2003 | 89,158 | 10.7% |
| 2004 | 107,628 | 10.2% |
| 2005 | 124,083 | 9.7% |
| 2006 | 151,887 | 10.1% |
| 2007 | 168,764 | 8.6% |
| 2008 | 180,567 | 9.7% |
| 2013 | 241,184 | 7.1% |
| 2015 | 306,819 | 6.4% |
| 2016 | 302,177 | 5.2% |
| 2017 | 264,253 | 4.5% |
| 2018 | 248,504 | 1.7% |
| 2019 | 165,053 | 1.4% |
Methodology & source. 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.