2025 MOT results
Volkswagen Lupo common problems
The most common reason a Volkswagen Lupo fails its MOT is emissions above the limit, on 10.6% of its 2,065 failed tests in 2025. Against other cars of the same age, 4 faults stand out, the widest gaps being: emissions above the limit at 6.1% of failures against 2.8% expected; an exhaust leak at 9.8% of failures against 5.1% expected; a weak or uneven footbrake at 6.6% of failures against 3.5% expected.
- Tests in 2025 5,137 Cars aged three and over
- Failed first time 40.2% 2,065 tests
- Found a dangerous defect 8.8% Unsafe to drive away
- Ended with an advisory 69.0% A problem to watch, not a failure
What fails a Volkswagen Lupo MOT
Each bar is the share of failed Volkswagen Lupo tests with that defect. Where we can compare it with cars of the same registration years, the marker shows what an average car of those ages records (12 of the 12 items below).
Most common reasons for failure
A test can fail for more than one defect, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits Noise, emissions and leaks | 10.6% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.5% |
| Exhaust system: major leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 9.8% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.4% |
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 9.3% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 8.4% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 7.9% |
| Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.8% |
| Service brake imbalance: across an axle Brakes | 6.6% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility | 6.2% |
| Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.1% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush excessively worn Suspension | 5.5% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
-
Emissions above the limit
10.6% of failures 5.2% expected 2 times as often
The exhaust gases are outside the limits for the car, which can be the catalytic converter, a sensor, or simply a poor state of tune.
A long run before the test helps a catalyst get hot; a persistent failure usually needs a diagnosis.
-
Headlamp aim out of line
10.5% of failures 8.5% expected somewhat more often
The beam pattern points too high, too low, or in the wrong place, so it either dazzles others or lights too little road.
Nothing to do at the roadside, but a garage resets the aim in minutes; a sagging suspension corner or a heavy boot load can throw it out.
-
Exhaust leak
9.8% of failures 5.1% expected 1.9 times as often
A hole or split letting exhaust gas out before the tailpipe.
A blowing or rasping note under load, loudest from cold.
-
Engine management light on
9.4% of failures 5.8% expected 1.6 times as often
The engine management light is on, or has been disconnected. Either fails the test.
A cheap code reader on the diagnostic socket will say what the car has stored before you pay for a test.
-
Split joint boot
9.3% of failures 6.7% expected somewhat more often
A split rubber boot on a joint or driveshaft. The joint may still be sound, but dirt and water get in once the boot is open.
Turn the wheels to full lock and look behind them for greasy splits in the rubber concertina.
-
Wiper blades that do not clear the screen
8.4% of failures 7.9% expected about as expected
Wiper blades that leave the windscreen smeared or streaked across the area the driver looks through.
Look for split or hardened rubber, and lift each blade to see whether it still sits flat.
Which parts of the car fail
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the area that most often fails a Volkswagen Lupo, on 44.6% of failed tests. The widest gap against cars of the same registration years is noise, emissions and leaks, on 30.7% against 18.6% expected.
Failure categories
DVSA's own sections of the test. The marker is what cars of the same registration years record.
| Defect category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 44.6% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 30.7% |
| Suspension | 30.4% |
| Brakes | 25.6% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 23.2% |
| Visibility | 18.6% |
| Tyres | 14.8% |
| Steering | 9.1% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What testers warn about
69.0% of Volkswagen Lupo tests ended with at least one advisory: a fault the tester found that did not fail the test. On Volkswagen Lupos, these are the items to ask about on a car you are viewing, because they are what the last tester expected to go next.
Most common advisories
Share of all tests, passes included.
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 17.2% |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 17.1% |
| Coil spring: corroded Suspension | 13.7% |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 13.0% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 12.0% |
| Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 11.5% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 10.7% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 9.8% |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 9.1% |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle | 6.8% |
| Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 6.1% |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 6.1% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Volkswagen Lupo problems: common questions
What is the most common problem with a Volkswagen Lupo?
Of the faults that fail an MOT, “Catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits” is the most common: it appears on 10.6% of failed Volkswagen Lupo tests. Across categories, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the area that most often fails one, on 44.6% of failed tests.
How often does a Volkswagen Lupo fail its MOT?
40.2% of Volkswagen Lupo tests in 2025 were not passed first time, from 5,137 tests of cars aged three and over. Allowing for the age and mileage of the cars tested, that gives it a UK Motoring Reliability Score of 49 out of 100, where 50 is as expected.
Does anything fail more often on a Volkswagen Lupo than on other cars?
Yes. “Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits” appears on 6.1% of its failures against 2.8% for cars of the same age, and “Exhaust system: major leak of exhaust gases” appears on 9.8% of its failures against 5.1% for cars of the same age. Where an item is missing from the national figures for a year, we use the smallest share those figures show, so the comparison never overstates the difference.
Are these the same as breakdowns or known faults?
No. These are the items a tester recorded at the MOT, which covers condition and safety: lamps, brakes, tyres, suspension, corrosion and emissions. A gearbox that is unpleasant, an infotainment screen that has died, or a car that will not start on a cold morning are not part of the test, so they are not in these figures.
Where do the figures come from?
Every normal MOT test of a Volkswagen Lupo aged three and over in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT results. Retests are excluded, and the same fault on more than one wheel counts once.
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT defects and advisories | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 5,137 MOT tests | 19 September 2026 |
- Shares for defects are of failed tests; shares for advisories are of all tests. A test can carry several defects, so shares add to more than 100%.
- The expected share is what an average car of the same registration years records, weighted by where this model’s failures fall. Where an item is outside the national figures for a year, the smallest share those figures show is used in its place, which is an upper bound, so the comparison never overstates a model’s problems. No expectation is published where less than 80% of the model’s failures can be compared.
- Great Britain only: DVSA does not run MOT testing in Northern Ireland. Cars under three years old are not tested.
- The descriptions of what each part does are general and the same on every model. Every figure comes from the MOT data.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.