MOT performance
Volkswagen Polo 6R (2009–2017): MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 664,940 MOT tests on the Volkswagen Polo 6R in 2023–2024 (cars first registered Dec 2009–Aug 2017, on average 9.4 years old at test), 67.9% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, the 6R failed 8% more often than comparable cars. Against the generation that replaced it, the AW, it fails 11% less often once age and mileage are allowed for (1.08× vs 1.21×).
664,940 MOT tests on 332,900 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 67.9% | ±0.1 pts (95%), n = 664,940 |
| All Volkswagen Polos | 67.0% | n = 1,255,982 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.08× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00; Volkswagen Polo overall 1.12× |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 7.4% | n = 664,940 |
| Average age at test | 9.4 years | n = 664,940 |
| On sale (catalogue) | 2009–2017 | Oct 2009 to Oct 2017 |
6R against the other Volkswagen Polo generations
Newer generations are younger at test, so their raw pass rates are higher almost by default; the adjusted column compares each with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel.
| Generation | Tests | Average age | First-time pass | vs similar cars | Dangerous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6R (2009–2017) | 664,940 | 9.4 yrs | 67.9% | +8% | 7.4% |
| AW (2017 on) | 241,469 | 3.7 yrs | 83.8% | +21% | 3.2% |
Where the 6R differs
- Steering: the 6R failed 54% less often than the Volkswagen Polo overall, relative to comparable cars (0.67× vs 1.46×).
- Seat belts and airbags: the 6R failed 24% more often than the Volkswagen Polo overall, relative to comparable cars (1.57× vs 1.26×).
| Area | 6R (vs similar) | AW (vs similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 12.0% (+6%) | 2.6% (-11%) |
| Suspension | 10.8% (+16%) | 0.7% (-41%) |
| Brakes | 8.9% (+40%) | 1.6% (-30%) |
| Tyres | 6.4% (-3%) | 3.7% (-22%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 5.3% (+13%) | 4.9% (+52%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.6% (+20%) | 0.4% (-24%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 3.5% (+24%) | 0.2% (-51%) |
| Steering | 1.3% (-33%) | 5.0% (+1542%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.0% (+57%) | 0.7% (+107%) |
| Road wheels | 0.4% (+17%) | 0.1% (-6%) |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.3% (-4%) | 0.1% (-14%) |
Most common Volkswagen Polo 6R failure items
1 of these 5 items is not among the Volkswagen Polo's ten most common failures overall.
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 3.58% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.50% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.45% |
| Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak | Suspension | 2.40% |
| Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements | Brakes | 2.04% |
Pass rate by age, by generation
At the same age, the generations can be compared directly.
| Age at test (years) | 6R pass rate (tests) | AW pass rate (tests) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | — | 85.1% (131,465) |
| 5-6 | 79.4% (74,749) | 76.8% (65,301) |
| 7-8 | 74.6% (194,492) | — |
| 9-10 | 66.4% (164,657) | — |
| 11-12 | 60.9% (154,266) | — |
| 13-15 | 57.0% (76,776) | — |
Registration years in the 6R
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1,303 | 57.0% |
| 2010 | 76,577 | 57.9% |
| 2011 | 80,360 | 59.0% |
| 2012 | 75,319 | 62.7% |
| 2013 | 77,578 | 64.2% |
| 2014 | 88,385 | 68.2% |
| 2015 | 102,963 | 73.9% |
| 2016 | 103,554 | 76.6% |
| 2017 | 58,901 | 78.6% |
Year pages cover every Volkswagen Polo registered that year, including any of another generation.
How cars are assigned to a generation
DVSA records don't say which generation a car is, so 73 Auto assigns each test by first-registration date against its catalogue's on-sale dates for the 6R (Oct 2009 to Oct 2017). Cars registered within three months either side of a changeover are left out, because run-out stock of the old model and early cars of the new one are registered in the same months. Some cars near the edges may still be of the neighbouring generation.
Check a specific Volkswagen Polo 6R
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.