Diesel Volkswagen Lupo: MOT pass rate

65.5% of diesel Volkswagen Lupos pass the MOT first time, measured across 698 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 129,759.

Diesel against the other Volkswagen Lupo versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Volkswagen Lupo specifically, petrol is the strongest at 66.6%, and this diesel version sits 1 points below the 66.5% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Volkswagen Lupo fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Volkswagen Lupo had covered 129,759 miles at test, against 83,476 for the petrol. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Volkswagen Lupo page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Volkswagen Lupo

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 3% of tests (32.02x the national rate for this defect)
2. Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle., 3.8% of tests (7.33x the national rate for this defect)
3. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.3% of tests (4.98x the national rate for this defect)
4. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 10.9% of tests (4.65x the national rate for this defect)
5. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.4% of tests (4.57x the national rate for this defect)
6. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 4.5% of tests (4.48x the national rate for this defect)
7. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 6% of tests (3.89x the national rate for this defect)
8. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 3.5% of tests (3.76x the national rate for this defect)
9. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.5% of tests (3.73x the national rate for this defect)
10. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.3% of tests (3.15x the national rate for this defect)

From 705 DVSA-tracked diesel Volkswagen Lupo tests, 2024, split out from the Volkswagen Lupo's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 2.91% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Volkswagen Lupo

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 10.1% of tests (17.97x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 13.6% of tests (4.78x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 20.6% of tests (4.35x the national rate for this defect)
4. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 5.5% of tests (4.34x the national rate for this defect)
5. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 25.5% of tests (4.12x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 20.9% of tests (4.03x the national rate for this defect)
7. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 5% of tests (3.27x the national rate for this defect), also fails
8. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 8.1% of tests (3.05x the national rate for this defect)
9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 16.2% of tests (2.91x the national rate for this defect)
10. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 5.4% of tests (2.7x the national rate for this defect), also fails

From 705 DVSA-tracked diesel Volkswagen Lupo tests, 2024.

Other Volkswagen Lupo fuel types

• Petrol Volkswagen Lupo - 66.6%

All Volkswagen Lupo MOT data · Every model