Used car guide

2001 Volkswagen Polo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2001 Volkswagen Polos, from 3,130 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,130MOT tests in 2025
55%pass first time (all 2001 cars: 61%)
3,400typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2001 Volkswagen Polos than on all cars registered in 2001.

  • Engine oil leaks1.7× usual
    Volkswagen Polo
    29.6% All 2001 cars
    17.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.4% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.6× usual
    Volkswagen Polo
    16% All 2001 cars
    6.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.4%, against 2.7% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Exhaust system1.9× usual
    Volkswagen Polo
    18.9% All 2001 cars
    9.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 2.6% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Headlights2× usual
    Volkswagen Polo
    18.2% All 2001 cars
    9.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.9%, against 3.5% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2× usual
    Volkswagen Polo
    14.9% All 2001 cars
    7.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 1.5% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

Better than most

Rust around suspension or steering mountings: 1.9% here, against 7.8% of all 2001 cars. Chassis rust or damage: 1.5% here, against 4.9% of all 2001 cars.

By area

The share of 2001 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    44% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    42% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    38% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    33% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    22% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Volkswagen Polo?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023866Tyres 10%
202222,672Tyres 22%
202127,403Tyres 27%
202026,294Tyres 25%
201936,646Tyres 27%
201843,728Suspension 30%
201745,893Tyres 31%
201651,811Tyres 31%
201551,312Tyres 31%
201444,293Suspension 32%
201338,351Suspension 37%
201237,125Suspension 40%
201138,667Suspension 49%
201036,123Suspension 52%
200922,048Suspension 50%
200823,214Suspension 47%
200721,020Suspension 46%
200617,454Lights and electrics 49%
200513,188Suspension 50%
200410,815Suspension 50%
20038,595Suspension 50%
20024,945Suspension 53%
20002,015Suspension 41%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2001 Volkswagen Polos registered in 2001. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score