Volkswagen Polo
Registered from 1990 to 2025.
About this model
The Volkswagen Polo is a supermini car (B-segment) produced by the German car manufacturer Volkswagen since 1975. It is sold in Europe and other markets worldwide in hatchback, saloon, and estate variants throughout its production run. As of 2018, six separate generations of the Polo had been produced, usually identified by a "Series" or "Mark" number.
From the Wikipedia article Volkswagen Polo, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2018 1.0 petrol. 7,098 of 49,142 tests failed, 14%.
Better than 14% of 2018 cars. The typical one fails 10%, across 966 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 55% | 3,922 |
| Tyres and wheels | 23% | 1,626 |
| Visibility | 17% | 1,178 |
| Brakes | 11% | 810 |
| Lights and electrics | 8% | 572 |
| Suspension | 5% | 329 |
The defects inspectors cite
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre seriously damaged
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Where it stands out against its peers
- Steering: failed more often than 99% of 2018 cars — 55% of its 7,098 failed tests, where an ordinary 2018 car has 1%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Steering — 55% of its failures
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Tyres and wheels — 23% of its failures
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre seriously damaged
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Brakes — 11% of its failures
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Lights and electrics — 8% of its failures
- Visibility — 17% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 100–120k miles this one fails 15% of its inspections, about what an ordinary car of the same age does.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 9% | 6% | 8,692 | |
| 20–40k miles | 14% | 9% | 25,158 | |
| 40–60k miles | 17% | 12% | 12,353 | |
| 60–80k miles | 20% | 14% | 2,411 | |
| 80–100k miles | 25% | 15% | 418 | |
| 100–120k miles | 15% | 15% | 74 |
49,106 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 20k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 1.0 petrol · 100 hp · 1205 kg · 2552 mm wheelbase · 5.7 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2021 | 1.0 petrol · 96 hp · 1171 kg · 2551 mm wheelbase · 5.1 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 1.0 petrol · 1196 kg · 2551 mm wheelbase · 5.4 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 1.0 petrol · 94 hp · 1159 kg · 2551 mm wheelbase · 5.3 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 1.0 petrol · 94 hp · 1156 kg · 2551 mm wheelbase · 5.3 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 1.2 petrol · 90 hp · 1120 kg · 2456 mm wheelbase · 4.5 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 1.2 petrol · 89 hp · 1140 kg · 2457 mm wheelbase · 4.6 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 1.2 petrol · 94 hp · 1145 kg · 2457 mm wheelbase · 4.6 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 1.2 petrol · 90 hp · 1125 kg · 2456 mm wheelbase · 4.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 1.2 petrol · 82 hp · 1099 kg · 2457 mm wheelbase · 5.3 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2012 | 1.2 petrol · 85 hp · 1108 kg · 2457 mm wheelbase · 5.3 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2011 | 1.2 petrol · 81 hp · 1098 kg · 2457 mm wheelbase · 5.3 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/00057/22
The frame of the panoramic sliding sunroof was not bonded to the roof of the bodywork. The sliding sunroof may become detached from the roof when the vehicle is being driven, endangering other road-users. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of Motor Vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00286/22
The correct deployment of the passenger airbag cannot be guaranteed if the airbag is activated below -15 ° C inside the vehicle. Due to faulty seams in the airbag’s protective cover in the dashboard, the component detached from the dashboard may break the windscreen. Glass fragments may damage the airbag, increasing the risk of injuries in the event of an accident. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00793/24
Cars initially used for internal purposes of Volkswagen AG might not have been correctly modified before they were sold to the general public. There is a possibility that certain safety systems of these cars are not correctly modified for street use. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00923/24
The driver airbag's gas generator may be faulty, resulting in uncontrolled inflation and the release of metal fragments. This increases the risk of injuries to the occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01380/23
The airbag propellant may be faulty. In the event of an accident this can lead to the release of fragments from the inflator housing, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01485/22
The airbag propellant may deteriorate over time. In the event of an accident this can lead to the release of fragments of the front airbag from the generator housing, increasing the risk of injury. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01809/23
The propellant can deteriorate due to high humidity and temperature variations. In the event of an accident in which the front airbag is deployed, this could result in fragments from the inflator housing coming loose and injuring the vehicle’s occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01833/22
Due to a manufacturing error the rear spoiler may not have been bonded to the tailgate. As a result the spoiler could detach, posing a risk to the following traffic. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
8 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.