Which model group has the lower recorded MOT failure rate: Volkswagen Polo or Ford Fiesta?

Across 8,715,991 recorded MOT tests, the Volkswagen Polo group has a 1.0 percentage point lower historical failure rate. The Volkswagen Polo group rate is 30.9% and the Ford Fiesta group rate is 31.9%. These population statistics do not predict an individual vehicle's result.

What are the main MOT differences between Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta?

The Volkswagen Polo has a 30.9% overall MOT failure rate (2,669,893 tests) while the Ford Fiesta has 31.9% (6,046,098 tests). The highest complete component category for the Volkswagen Polo is lamps & electrics, while for the Ford Fiesta it is lamps & electrics.

Should I buy a Volkswagen Polo or Ford Fiesta?

This aggregate MOT comparison is not a buying recommendation. It describes recorded model-group outcomes, not the condition or likely result of a particular vehicle. Check the specific vehicle's MOT history and condition before deciding.

Volkswagen Polo vs Ford Fiesta — MOT Failure Rate Comparison

Volkswagen Polo

30.9%

failure rate from 2,669,893 tests

4.0pp above the dataset reference (26.9%)

Ford Fiesta

31.9%

failure rate from 6,046,098 tests

5.0pp above the dataset reference (26.9%)

Recorded-rate result: The Volkswagen Polo model group has a 1.0 percentage point lower historical failure rate than the Ford Fiesta group in this dataset.

Failure Rate by Vehicle Age

How the Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta compare across different age groups:

Age	Volkswagen Polo	Ford Fiesta	Difference
0-2 years	9.2%	11.5%	Volkswagen Polo +2.3pp
3-5 years	15.4%	15.8%	Volkswagen Polo +0.4pp
6-10 years	26.9%	30.3%	Volkswagen Polo +3.3pp
11-15 years	41.1%	41.7%	Volkswagen Polo +0.6pp
15+ years	49.8%	45.6%	Ford Fiesta +4.2pp

Recorded Component Comparison

Side-by-side aggregate rates for MOT tests involving each component category. These are group statistics, not a diagnosis of either vehicle.

Volkswagen Polo Component Ford Fiesta

6.8%

Lamps & Electrics

7.6%

5.1%

Suspension

5.8%

4.3%

Brakes

2.8%

3.0%

Tyres

3.6%

3.0%

Visibility

2.4%

2.7%

Body & Chassis

1.6%

1.3%

Steering

1.6%

Component	Volkswagen Polo	Ford Fiesta	Lower rate
Lamps & Electrics	6.8%	7.6%	Volkswagen Polo
Suspension	5.1%	5.8%	Volkswagen Polo
Brakes	4.3%	2.8%	Ford Fiesta
Tyres	3.0%	3.6%	Volkswagen Polo
Visibility	3.0%	2.4%	Ford Fiesta
Body & Chassis	2.7%	1.6%	Ford Fiesta
Steering	1.3%	1.6%	Volkswagen Polo

Which Has the Lower Recorded Failure Rate?

Based on official DVSA MOT test records covering 8,715,991 tests between these two models, the Volkswagen Polo group has a 1.0 percentage point lower overall failure rate. The Volkswagen Polo group rate is 30.9% compared with 31.9% for the Ford Fiesta group.

The age-band table shows whether that gap is consistent across the available groups. The highest recorded component category is lamps & electrics for the Volkswagen Polo group and lamps & electrics for the Ford Fiesta group. Category rates show historical involvement in failed tests; they do not identify a fault on a particular vehicle.

Explore Each Model in Detail

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Data methodology: Failure rates are weighted averages across all mileage bands, calculated from official DVSA MOT test records. Only age/mileage combinations with 100+ tests are included. Component percentages are weighted recorded category rates, not probabilities for an individual vehicle. The checked-in dataset contains 148,509,908 tests and 39,969,903 failures. Vehicle condition and history are not captured by these group comparisons.

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