>

MOT History from tests of diesel VOLKSWAGEN POLOs year 1997

Review the list of common VOLKSWAGEN POLO failures below or to perform a specific mot history check on your VOLKSWAGEN then use our popular KnowYourCar service

mot history
Pass percent:48.27%
(The average a diesel VOLKSWAGEN POLO year 1997 passes without issue)
Based on:19,196 MOT Tests
Most common failuresNo# failures
Registration plate lamp issues2785
Headlamp aim out of alignment1779
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively1366
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements |3.7.B.7|1276
Brake pipe excessively corroded1159
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort782
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a non-turbo charged engine |7.4.B.3b|657
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel |3.1.6b|617
Nearside Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|567
Registration plate issues558
Nearside Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|550
Offside Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|546
Offside Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|508
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases |7.1.2|402
Rear brake binding398
Brake hose excessively deteriorated364
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases |7.1.2|320
Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.6.1|307
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|305
Offside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.6.1|298
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases |7.1.2|297
Brakes imbalanced across an axle279
Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play |2.6.2|274
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|271
Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play |2.6.2|266
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|239
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened223
Emissions not tested |7.0|221
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|221
Nearside Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|214
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|207
Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|207
Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|191
Nearside Front Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|188
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases |7.1.2|181
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|176
Service brake: efficiency below requirements |3.7.B.7|173
Offside Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|172
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|166
Windscreen has damage161
Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|160
Offside Front Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|158
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|154
Horn not working |1.6.2a|151
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|147
Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play |2.6.2|144
Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|140
Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|136
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort |3.7.B.5a|135
Offside Rear fog lamp not working |1.3.2b|134
Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play |2.6.2|131
Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated |7.1.1a|129
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|128
Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.6.1|128
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort |3.7.B.5a|127
Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|123
Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.6.1|118
Rear brake application uneven114
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|114
Nearside Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment |2.5.A.1c|111
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|104
Offside Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment |2.5.A.1c|98
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine |7.4.B.3b|95
Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted |3.5.1h|89
Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated |7.1.1a|85
Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split |2.5.C.1a|81
Fuel system component leaking |7.2.3|80
Nearside Rear position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|79
Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted |3.5.1h|77
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect |2.7.5|75
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|74
Offside Rear position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|70
Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement68
Windscreen wiper blade insecure67
Nearside Rear Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|66
Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.5.A.2|65
Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour |7.4.B.4|63
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|63
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|62
Fuel pipe leaking |7.2.3|61
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|61
Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort |3.7.B.5a|61
Offside Rear Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|60
Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated |8.2.2|59
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated |8.2.2|58
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|58
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image |1.2.4a|56
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|56
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image |1.2.4a|55
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play |2.5.A.3c|53
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|53
Front brake application uneven53
Offside Front wheel bearing has excessive play |2.5.A.3c|52
Nearside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter split |2.5.C.1a|52
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|52
Offside Front Brake hose bulging under pressure |3.6.B.3|52
Offside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort |3.7.B.5a|51
Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split |2.5.C.1a|51
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|49
Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|49
Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|49
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` |8.3.1e|48
Offside Front coil spring incomplete |2.4.C.1a|48
Front Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated |7.1.1a|48
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement |7.2.4b|48
Front brake disc excessively pitted |3.5.1h|48
Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|46
Offside Front coil spring fractured |2.4.C.1a|46
Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect |2.7.5|46
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|45
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|44
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working |1.3.2b|44
Offside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings |6.1.B.2|43
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|42
Nearside Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|42
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|42
Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|42
Offside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.5.A.2|41
Centre Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated |7.1.1a|40
Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|40
Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play |2.5.A.3c|39
Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.5.A.2|39
Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated |8.2.2|39
Offside Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings |6.1.B.2|38
Offside Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|37
Brake load sensing valve linkage seized |3.6.E.3|37
Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|37
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault |5.4.2|36
Battery insecure |1.9.1|36
Power steering pipe|s| or hose|s| leaking |2.3.3b|36
Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated |8.2.2|36
Offside front brake binding |3.7.B.1|35
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split |2.2.D.2d|35
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|35
Fuel hose leaking |7.2.3|34
Exhaust tailpipe not capable of allowing the emission probe to be inserted |7.4.B.1|34
Nearside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings |6.1.B.2|34
Nearside Rear Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion |6.1.C.1|34
Nearside Front Road wheel bead rim badly distorted |4.2.A.1a|34
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|33
Offside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play |2.5.A.3c|33
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint |2.5.B.1a|32
Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view |8.1.2a|32
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|32
Rear fog lamp tell tale not working |1.3.1b|31
Offside Front position lamp|s| not in good working order |function impaired| |1.1.4a|30
Rear Parking brake lever has no reserve travel |3.1.6b|30
Offside Rear Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion |6.1.C.1|30
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour |1.4.A.2f|30

We get to these numbers by trawling through over 1 billion MOT test results since 2004 and crunched the numbers. We remove anything to do with Tyres, as they are model independent and group together common non-model specific issues. We are trying to get to a picture of what models have what issues.

Please note: We take the data from the DVSA. This data is raw and can contain typos and spelling mistakes that garages may have entered while recording a MOT result. Specifically miss-match on names of models and makes. We are constantly cleaning the data so bear with the odd issue.

Got suggestions? We’re improving this section all the time. If you have any suggestions, please let us know.

Find us on Facebook

© KnowYourCar™ 2019. All rights reserved
Except where otherwise noted, content on our MOT statistics pages are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
You are free to redistribute the material in any medium or format as long as credit is given to KnowYourCar

WARNING: We have placed hidden watermarks in our data. We will take action against our data being used outside of these terms.

MOT Data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

By using our site you are agreeing to our terms and conditions
Terms & Conditions  Privacy Policy