The picture
Polo Match Tsi S-A: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,922 MOT tests, the Polo Match Tsi S-A returns 91.5% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. Windscreen damage and a defective wiper blade round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 17,488, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
A tyre seriously damaged
25 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 02
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
22 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 03
Wiper blade defective
16 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 04
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
12 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 05
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
11 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 06
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
10 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 07
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
10 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 08
Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type
6 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 09
A tyre seriously damaged
6 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 10
A tyre seriously damaged
6 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£180–£445
If every one of this Polo Match Tsi S A's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Brake pad measurement gauge
Testers fail pads under 1.5mm. A wear gauge tells you if you've got two months left or two weeks.
Search Amazon UK
Buying or keeping a Polo Match Tsi S A?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Polo Match Tsi S A and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.