Volkswagen Polo: suspension MOT failures
Of the 3,845,054 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests in this dataset, 8.3% recorded at least one suspension failure. It shows up most on 2002 and 2003 cars.
Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair cost: £150–£450 per corner (rough UK ballpark, not a quote).
Suspension failures by year
| Model year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 340 | 8.8% |
| 1986 | 351 | 10.3% |
| 1987 | 439 | 11.2% |
| 1988 | 722 | 12.3% |
| 1989 | 1,069 | 12.4% |
| 1990 | 1,163 | 13.2% |
| 1991 | 1,662 | 9.9% |
| 1992 | 1,405 | 11.0% |
| 1993 | 1,744 | 13.4% |
| 1994 | 1,087 | 11.2% |
| 1995 | 1,271 | 12.7% |
| 1996 | 2,719 | 11.3% |
| 1997 | 3,375 | 11.5% |
| 1998 | 4,237 | 11.3% |
| 1999 | 7,895 | 9.5% |
| 2000 | 21,588 | 9.2% |
| 2001 | 32,407 | 9.3% |
| 2002 | 53,866 | 15.5% |
| 2003 | 89,158 | 14.7% |
| 2004 | 107,628 | 14.2% |
| 2005 | 124,083 | 13.8% |
| 2006 | 151,887 | 11.8% |
| 2007 | 168,774 | 12.0% |
| 2008 | 180,567 | 12.7% |
| 2009 | 162,337 | 14.2% |
| 2010 | 250,952 | 13.8% |
| 2011 | 259,877 | 12.3% |
| 2012 | 236,808 | 9.4% |
| 2013 | 241,218 | 7.9% |
| 2014 | 270,605 | 6.6% |
| 2015 | 306,856 | 5.4% |
| 2016 | 302,197 | 4.9% |
| 2017 | 264,267 | 4.2% |
| 2018 | 248,509 | 1.1% |
| 2019 | 165,082 | 0.7% |
| 2020 | 86,131 | 0.6% |
| 2021 | 64,721 | 0.3% |
| 2022 | 24,600 | 0.3% |
| 2023 | 952 | 1.1% |
Methodology & source. 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.