2007 Volkswagen Polo MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 51.5% of Volkswagen Polos first used in 2007 passed their MOT first time, against 57.4% for all cars first used in 2007. Across 69,797 Polo first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and body, chassis and structure.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Volkswagen Polos first used in 2007 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
51.5%
of 20,924 first tests; all cars first used in 2007: 57.4%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
69,797
first tests, 2023–2025; 20,924 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
17.3%
of 20,924 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
95,500
middle half: 71,500–120,000 miles; all cars first used in 2007: 107,500

How the 2007 Volkswagen Polo MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Polos first used in 2007 against all cars first used in 2007 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Polo figure was 5.9 points lower.

2007 PoloAll cars first used in 2007
50%60%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2007, test year 2021: 56.8%All cars first used in 2007, test year 2022: 57.2%All cars first used in 2007, test year 2023: 57%All cars first used in 2007, test year 2024: 56.9%All cars first used in 2007, test year 2025: 57.4%2007 Polo, test year 2021: 54.5%2007 Polo, test year 2022: 54.1%2007 Polo, test year 2023: 52.5%2007 Polo, test year 2024: 51.4%2007 Polo, test year 2025: 51.5%57.4%51.5%
View this chart as a table
Test year2007 PoloAll cars first used 2007Polo first tests
202154.5%56.8%28,478
202254.1%57.2%27,154
202352.5%57.0%25,512
202451.4%56.9%23,361
202551.5%57.4%20,924

Common 2007 Volkswagen Polo MOT failures

Share of the 33,597 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment48.4%
Suspension35.4%
Body, chassis, structure32.9%
Brakes25.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks19.0%
Visibility18.0%
Tyres17.2%
Steering8.4%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt19.5%6,552
Position lamp: not working11.1%3,729
Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt9.5%3,206
Stop lamp: not working9.5%3,177
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid9.1%3,066

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2007 Volkswagen Polo before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Body and underside. Worth looking underneath with a torch at the sills, floor and mountings for corrosion, and at the rubber boots on the drive shafts for splits.

Common 2007 Volkswagen Polo MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2007 Polos, as a share of all 69,797 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge19.2%13,404
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing12.1%8,480
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases10.0%6,960
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement8.2%5,717
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive7.4%5,178

Questions about the 2007 Volkswagen Polo MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2007 Volkswagen Polo?

In 2025, 51.5% of Polos first used in 2007 passed their MOT first time, against 57.4% for all cars first used in 2007. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2007 Polo most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 48.4% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (35.4%) and body, chassis and structure (32.9%). The single most common item was “Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” (19.5%).

How often does a 2007 Volkswagen Polo fail its MOT?

In 2025, 48.5% of first tests on Polos first used in 2007 did not pass first time: 39.8% failed, and a further 8.7% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 33,597 of 69,797 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2007 Volkswagen Polo MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 19.2% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (12.1%), “Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases” (10.0%), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (8.2%) and “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (7.4%).

Is a 2007 Volkswagen Polo reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 54.5% in 2021 to 51.5% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2007

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2007 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2007 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2007 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2007 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2007 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics

How the 2007 Volkswagen Polo MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2007 Polo” means a Volkswagen Polo whose date of first use falls in 2007 (56, 07 and 57 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2007, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.