Used car guide

2003 Volkswagen Polo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Volkswagen Polos, from 8,595 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

8,595MOT tests in 2025
48%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
4,200typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Volkswagen Polos than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.4× usual
    Volkswagen Polo
    15.8% All 2003 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.7%, against 2.9% of all 2003 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.

  • Headlight aim2× usual
    Volkswagen Polo
    12.8% All 2003 cars
    6.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 12.8%, against 6.5% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

  • Sidelights2× usual
    Volkswagen Polo
    12.4% All 2003 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.4%, against 5.4% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Flexible brake hoses1.8× usual
    Volkswagen Polo
    11% All 2003 cars
    6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1.1% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2.5× usual
    Volkswagen Polo
    7.4% All 2003 cars
    3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.2%, against 2.9% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.5% here, against 18.3% of all 2003 cars. Rust around suspension or steering mountings: 2.7% here, against 6.6% of all 2003 cars.

By area

The share of 2003 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    50% 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
    47% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    38% 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.

  • Brakes
    34% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    19% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    17% 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.

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%
20024,945Suspension 53%
20013,130Suspension 44%
20002,015Suspension 41%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Volkswagen Polos registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score