Diesel Volkswagen Polo: MOT pass rate

62.6% of diesel Volkswagen Polos pass the MOT first time, measured across 48,831 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 106,118.

Diesel against the other Volkswagen Polo 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 Polo specifically, petrol is the strongest at 72.6%, and this diesel version sits 9.2 points below the 71.8% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Volkswagen Polo 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 Polo had covered 106,118 miles at test, against 67,319 for the petrol. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.

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 Polo page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Volkswagen Polo

1. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.9% of tests (3.84x the national rate for this defect)
2. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 4.8% of tests (3.67x the national rate for this defect)
3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.5% of tests (3.67x the national rate for this defect)
4. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 5.4% of tests (3.5x the national rate for this defect)
5. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.6% of tests (3.5x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 5.2% of tests (2.84x the national rate for this defect)
7. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 6.5% of tests (2.78x the national rate for this defect)
8. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 2.9% of tests (2.29x the national rate for this defect)
9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 3.4% of tests (2.01x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 9.9% of tests (1.97x the national rate for this defect)

From 49,165 DVSA-tracked diesel Volkswagen Polo tests, 2024, split out from the Volkswagen Polo's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4.67% 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 Polo

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

1. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 5.8% of tests (2.89x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 3.4% of tests (2.68x the national rate for this defect)
3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 9.6% of tests (2.45x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.5% of tests (1.71x the national rate for this defect)
5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 22.1% of tests (1.65x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 4.3% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this defect)
7. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 7.1% of tests (1.5x the national rate for this defect)
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 34% of tests (1.28x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 6.3% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this defect)
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 14.8% of tests

From 49,165 DVSA-tracked diesel Volkswagen Polo tests, 2024.

Other Volkswagen Polo fuel types

• Petrol Volkswagen Polo - 72.6%

All Volkswagen Polo MOT data · Every model