Car statistics by year
2016 Volkswagen Polo
Volkswagen Polo cars first registered in 2016: how they did at their 2025 MOT, what failed them, how far they have been driven and how many are still on the road. Compared with every car first registered in 2016, so like is set against like.
- MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 74.4% All 2016 cars 75.6%
- Typical mileage at the MOT 58,000 miles; all 2016 cars 65,300
- Left at the end of 2025 51,632 97.7% of the 52,860 at the end of 2016
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 6.7% All 2016 cars 6.7%
- Tests with an advisory 50.9% All 2016 cars 48.6%
- MOT tests in 2025 51,732 normal tests in Great Britain
How do 2016 Volkswagen Polos do at their MOT?
In 2025, at about 9 years old, 74.4% of 2016 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests were passed first time, against 75.6% for all cars first registered in 2016. 2016 Volkswagen Polos did worse than average for their age, by 1.2 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 75.6% of the time (all 2016 cars 77.5%).
MOT pass rate by year of first registration: Volkswagen Polo vs all cars
Each pair of bars is one year of first registration, tested in 2025. Older cars pass less often, so compare each Volkswagen Polo bar with the all-cars bar beside it.
| First registered | Volkswagen Polo | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| ’10 | 56.2% | 59.3% |
| ’11 | 57.6% | 61.5% |
| ’12 | 60.7% | 63.6% |
| ’13 | 62.5% | 66.0% |
| ’14 | 66.7% | 69.1% |
| ’15 | 71.8% | 72.6% |
| ’16 | 74.4% | 75.6% |
| ’17 | 76.4% | 79.1% |
| ’18 | 74.9% | 81.8% |
| ’19 | 78.7% | 84.4% |
| ’20 | 86.4% | 86.9% |
| ’21 | 88.0% | 88.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT failures on the 2016 Volkswagen Polo
Suspension arms: pin or bush excessively worn was the most common single reason a 2016 Volkswagen Polo failed, on 18.6% of about 13,200 failed tests. By area of the car, suspension failed most often (36.6% of failed tests; all 2016 cars 29.0%). 6.7% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 6.7% for all cars first registered in 2016. A failed test can have several defects, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common reasons for failure
Share of failed tests with each defect. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Suspension arms: pin or bush excessively worn Suspension | 18.6% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 8.7% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 6.5% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension | 6.2% |
| Parking brake efficiency below requirements Brakes | 6.1% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes | 5.8% |
| Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres | 4.9% |
| Service brake performance: excessively binding Brakes | 4.7% |
| Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 4.5% |
| Catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.2% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Failure categories: Volkswagen Polo vs all 2016 cars
The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.
| Category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 36.6% |
| Brakes | 28.4% |
| Tyres | 22.8% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 20.9% |
| Visibility | 14.9% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 10.9% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5.9% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 2.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT advisories on the 2016 Volkswagen Polo
An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 50.9% of 2016 Volkswagen Polo tests had at least one (all 2016 cars 48.6%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.
Most common advisories
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 18.3% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 12.6% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 11.3% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 10.6% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 6.0% |
| Shock absorbers: light misting of oil Suspension | 3.5% |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes | 3.4% |
| Service brake performance: binding but not excessively Brakes | 2.9% |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 1.8% |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle | 1.8% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What mileage is normal for a 2016 Volkswagen Polo?
Half of the 2016 Volkswagen Polos tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 58,000 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 41,800 and a quarter more than 75,400. For all cars first registered in 2016, the middle figure was 65,300 miles, so 2016 Volkswagen Polos have been driven 11.2% less far than average.
Mileage at the 2025 MOT
Odometer readings at each car’s latest MOT of the year. The bar covers the middle half of cars; the line the middle 80%.
| 10% | 25% | Median | 75% | 90% | Cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Volkswagen Polo | 28,500 | 41,800 | 58,000 | 75,400 | 92,700 | 49,977 |
| All 2016 cars | 32,200 | 47,000 | 65,300 | 86,000 | 108,800 | 2,323,151 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
How many 2016 Volkswagen Polos are left?
At the end of 2016, 52,860 2016 Volkswagen Polos were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, 51,632 were: 51,133 licensed and 499 declared off the road (SORN). That is 97.7% still on the record, against 94.1% for all cars first registered in 2016.
Share still on the record since 2016
Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2016. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.
| Year end | 2016 Volkswagen Polo | All 2016 cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 2017 | 101.2% | 100.0% |
| 2018 | 99.9% | 99.0% |
| 2019 | 98.5% | 96.5% |
| 2020 | 98.4% | 96.5% |
| 2021 | 99.0% | 96.6% |
| 2022 | 98.7% | 96.4% |
| 2023 | 98.3% | 95.6% |
| 2024 | 98.0% | 95.0% |
| 2025 | 97.7% | 94.1% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated
Recalls that may affect cars built around 2016
2 of the Volkswagen Polo’s 24 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2016. 1 has no build dates, so could apply to any year.
The 2016 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2016 may have been built in 2015, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.
| Launched | Concern | Built | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Dec 2017 | Towing eye in the vehicle tool kit may detach during use | 1 Oct 2015 to 31 Jul 2017 | 110,001 (all models) |
| 23 Jun 2016 | Child lock may disengage | 25 Nov 2015 to 14 Apr 2016 | 13,620 (all models) |
Every Volkswagen Polo recall · Check a specific car on GOV.UK · How we match recalls
Recall details come from manufacturers through DVSA. “Vehicles” is the number the manufacturer reported; “all models” means the figure covers everything in the recall. A recall listed here may not apply to a particular car: only the manufacturer or GOV.UK can say for its VIN.
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis January 1992 to September 2026 Updated
Other years of the Volkswagen Polo
24 years of the Volkswagen Polo, by year of first registration, have their own page with MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left. Against all cars of the same age, the 2022 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (91.6% passed first time) and the 2003 cars worst (48.1%).
| Year | Registered | Left | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | – | 2,629 | 60.2% |
| 2000 | – | 5,112 | 54.0% |
| 2001 | – | 6,181 | 55.1% |
| 2002 | – | 7,055 | 49.0% |
| 2003 | – | 10,681 | 48.1% |
| 2004 | – | 12,456 | 47.9% |
| 2005 | – | 14,316 | 47.2% |
| 2006 | – | 18,139 | 48.4% |
| 2007 | – | 21,318 | 51.5% |
| 2008 | – | 23,569 | 51.3% |
| 2009 | – | 22,026 | 53.2% |
| 2010 | – | 35,846 | 56.2% |
| 2011 | – | 37,698 | 57.6% |
| 2012 | – | 36,229 | 60.7% |
| 2013 | – | 37,814 | 62.5% |
| 2014 | 45,902 | 44,054 | 66.7% |
| 2015 | 53,513 | 51,439 | 71.8% |
| 2016 | 52,860 | 51,632 | 74.4% |
| 2017 | 45,894 | 45,532 | 76.4% |
| 2018 | 43,750 | 43,293 | 74.9% |
| 2019 | 35,969 | 35,916 | 78.7% |
| 2020 | 26,334 | 26,050 | 86.4% |
| 2021 | 30,202 | 29,589 | 88.0% |
| 2022 | 23,171 | 22,347 | 91.6% |
Registered: cars on the DVLA record at the end of the year they were first registered (these counts start in 2014, so older years show a dash). Left: licensed or declared SORN at the end of 2025. Both cover the United Kingdom. Pass rate: first-time passes at normal MOT tests in Great Britain in 2025; all cars: every car first registered the same year.
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT results and mileage | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 51,732 MOT tests of 2016 Volkswagen Polo cars | 15 September 2026 |
| Cars on the record | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of 2025 | 51,632 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) | 15 September 2026 |
- MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Volkswagen Polo cars first registered in 2016; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2016.
- Year of first registration is DVSA’s first-use date: when the car was first registered, in the UK or abroad.
- Defects and advisories are DVSA’s descriptions made readable. Where on the car a defect was found (side, front or rear) is ignored, so the same fault on any wheel counts once per test.
- Mileage is the odometer reading at each car’s latest normal MOT of the year, as recorded by the tester. A few readings are in kilometres or mistyped; percentiles are not thrown by a handful of outliers.
- Cars on the record come from DfT table VEH0124 and cover the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland; MOT figures cover Great Britain only.
- DVSA records the model name typed in at the test. We match those names to DVLA’s generic models, so a handful of tests may be counted under a close relative.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.