MOT performance
2012 Volkswagen Polo: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 75,319 MOT tests on 2012-registered Volkswagen Polos in 2023–2024 (on average 11 years old at test, median 73,583 miles), 62.7% passed first time, 4.3 points lower than the Volkswagen Polo overall. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, 2012 Volkswagen Polos failed 7% more often than comparable cars.
75,319 MOT tests on 37,991 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 62.7% | ±0.3 pts (95%), n = 75,319 |
| All Volkswagen Polos | 67.0% | n = 1,255,982 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.07× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 7.3% | n = 75,319 |
| Average age at test | 11 years | n = 75,319 |
Where 2012 Volkswagen Polos fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 17.6% | +19% |
| Suspension | 12.7% | +4% |
| Brakes | 10.0% | +33% |
| Tyres | 6.6% | -2% |
| Driver's view of the road | 6.1% | +15% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 4.7% | +23% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.3% | +14% |
| Steering | 1.4% | -40% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.0% | +17% |
| Road wheels | 0.4% | +3% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.3% | -8% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak | Suspension | 4.21% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.87% |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 3.45% |
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.36% |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.23% |
Check a specific 2012 Volkswagen Polo
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.