Used car guide

2004 Volkswagen Polo diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Volkswagen Polo first registered in 2004 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 6,594 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

6,594MOTs of 2004 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
47%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 57%)
6,600typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2004 Volkswagen Polo diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2004 Volkswagen Polo diesel than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.3× usual
    Volkswagen Polo
    15.5% All 2004 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.2%, against 3% of all 2004 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.

  • Sidelights2.3× usual
    Volkswagen Polo
    14.9% All 2004 cars
    6.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.6%, against 5.7% of all 2004 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.

  • Headlight aim2.2× usual
    Volkswagen Polo
    14.9% All 2004 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 14.9%, against 6.8% of all 2004 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.

  • Brake lights1.9× usual
    Volkswagen Polo
    10.8% All 2004 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7%, against 4.5% of all 2004 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.

  • Braking performance1.6× usual
    Volkswagen Polo
    12% All 2004 cars
    7.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 3.1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.5% here, against 17.4% of all 2004 cars. Engine oil leaks: 6.2% here, against 14.5% of all 2004 cars.

Common 2004 Volkswagen Polo diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2004 Volkswagen Polo diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    55% 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
    49% 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
    39% 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
    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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    16% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    15% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults on the 2004 Volkswagen Polo diesel

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Fire-risk and brake recalls

    All engines

    Recalls covered fuel pump cover bolts (cars built March to Aug 2004), seats that could catch fire (built May 2005 to Feb 2007), heated seat wiring and a brake servo pipe that could crack.

    At the viewing: Ask a VW dealer to check the VIN for outstanding recalls.

    Source: Haynes: how to buy a VW Polo Mk4 (2002-2009)

  • Rust in the front arches and windscreen base

    All engines

    The arch liners rub through the front wheel arches, and rust forms under the windscreen seal.

    At the viewing: Look inside the front arches and along the bottom of the windscreen.

    Source: Haynes: how to buy a VW Polo Mk4 (2002-2009)

  • Window and instrument faults

    All engines

    Electric window faults are common, and bad solder in the instrument cluster causes random warning lights and a faulty fuel gauge.

    At the viewing: Try every window and watch the gauges.

    Source: Haynes: how to buy a VW Polo Mk4 (2002-2009)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2004 Volkswagen Polo diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2004 Volkswagen Polo diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the sidelights? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2004 Volkswagen Polo diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the headlight aim? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2004 Volkswagen Polo diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volkswagen Polo?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Volkswagen Polo compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023932Tyres 11%
202223,387Tyres 22%
202159,486Tyres 25%
202077,980Tyres 22%
2019108,465Tyres 25%
2018129,299Tyres 28%
2017136,341Tyres 31%
2016153,888Tyres 30%
2015152,852Tyres 31%
2014131,590Tyres 32%
2013115,106Tyres 32%
2012111,797Suspension 35%
2011118,494Suspension 45%
2010112,381Suspension 48%
200969,765Suspension 47%
200875,631Suspension 44%
200769,689Suspension 43%
200659,926Lights and electrics 47%
200546,730Suspension 47%
200332,066Suspension 48%
200218,644Suspension 51%
200111,687Lights and electrics 43%
20007,635Brakes 40%
19992,825Brakes 37%
19981,492Brakes 37%
19971,152Suspension 40%
19961,017Suspension 42%
1995430Suspension 46%
1994487Brakes 35%
1993765Brakes 37%
1992627Suspension 33%
1991770Brakes 37%
1990490Lights and electrics 40%
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1981–Too few tests
1980–Too few tests
1979–Too few tests
1978–Too few tests
1977–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Volkswagen Polo cars first registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score