Volkswagen Polo reliability
The Volkswagen Polo fails its MOT about as often as most cars over 10 years old: 44.5% of 285,903 tests failed in 2023, against 39.7% on average.
24 DVSA recalls for the Volkswagen Polo
Most cover a batch of cars built in a set period, and dealers fix them free. Sweep’s check shows the recalls for a car’s age and whether the DVSA has one outstanding.
Check rear axle bolted connection
STOP -DRIVE - Do not drive your vehicle until the repair has been completed; it must be recovered to a workshop. The rear axle bolted connecting may not have been completed to specification. Risk of axle becoming detached and resultant loss of control and possible collision or injury.
Fix: Check and if necessary re-work rear axle bolted connection
Recalled models: POLO · 2 vehicles
Takata front drivers or passenger airbag replacement
Urgent Safety Warning – Do Not Drive Your Vehicle Our information shows your vehicle was originally allocated to or used for an extended period of time in a region with a climate zone considered to as HIGH RISK. Issue: The front airbag in your VW vehicle contains an ageing inflator propellant that may explode when deployed due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity. Risk: If the airbag inflator explodes metal fragments may be ejected causing life-threatening or fatal injuries to anyone in the vehicle.
Fix: The front airbag must be replaced. Immediate Action Required: Stop driving your vehicle immediately. Contact the Takata Stop Drive helpline at 0113 526 9646 (MONDAY to FRIDAY 9:00AM to 5:00PM to arrange your recall service.
Recalled models: POLO · 35 vehicles
Replace front passenger airbag
The front passenger airbag may be faulty. In the event of an accident-related deployment the front passenger airbag may have a reduced protective effect also the gas generator housing may burst and components of the gas generator housing may come loose and cause serious or deadly injuries to vehicle occupants.
Fix: The passenger airbag must be replaced.
Recalled models: POLO · 563 vehicles
Takata Front airbag
The function of the driver airbag inflators can degrade due to air and moisture ingress.
Fix: Replace airbag
Recalled models: POLO (9N) · 89,323 vehicles
The driver's airbag may not correctly deploy if activated
The driver's airbag may not correctly deploy if activated.
Fix: Replace the driver's air bag assembly.
Recalled models: POLO · 21 vehicles
The roof spoiler may not have been bonded to the rear lid with the specified process materials
On all affected Polo vehicles there is a possibility that the roof spoiler may not have been bonded to the rear lid with the specified process materials.
Fix: On all affected vehicles the roof spoiler has to be replaced.
Recalled models: POLO · 356 vehicles
The sun roof frame may not have been bonded to the body roof
The sunroof frame may not have been correctly bonded to the body roof.
Fix: Check and if necessary correctly bond the sunroof frame to the body roof.
Recalled models: POLO · 35 vehicles
A faultily installed net for the design breakage point for the discharge of the passenger airbag has been fitted
A dash panel with a faulty installed net for the design breakage point for the discharge of the passenger airbag has been fitted.
Fix: On the affected vehicles the dash panel has to be replaced.
Recalled models: POLO · 6,889 vehicles
Oil may get into the brake servo through the vacuum lines of the tandem pump.
Oil may get into the brake servo through the vacuum lines of the tandem pump leading to a loss of braking assistance.
Fix: Replace the vacuum line from the tandem pump. Check other components for oil and replace if necessary.
Recalled models: POLO · 4,103 vehicles
The housing bolts on the camshelf adjuster may come loose
The housing bolts on the camshaft adjuster may come loose and break the pulley
Fix: On the affected vehicles the camshaft adjuster has to be replaced
Recalled models: POLO · 472 vehicles
The adjusted handbrake lever travel for parking the vehicle can increase
Hand brake lever travel increase due to adjuster nut movement.
Fix: Re-adjust assembly and fit locking device to nut.
Recalled models: POLO · 44,256 vehicles
The left rear seat belt double buckle may unfasten involuntarily
Left rear seat belt may unfasten involuntarily.
Fix: On Affected vehicles a spacer will be fitted in the double buckle of the rear seat.
Recalled models: POLO · 45,714 vehicles
Towing eye in the vehicle tool kit may detach during use
The welding of the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit may not be to specification. As a result the weld on the eye may fail during use causing loss of propulsion and the towrope with the attached eye can potentially cause property damage and personal injury.
Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit.
Recalled models: POLO · 110,001 vehicles
Child lock may disengage
The door child locks may disengage without driver knowledge. Though the door remains close it is possible for the door to then be opened from the inside.
Fix: On affected vehicles inspect lock mechanism and replace where necessary.
Recalled models: POLO · 13,620 vehicles
Backrest may not perform correctly in a collision
The fitting for the backrest frame to the front seats (mounting of backrest to seat frame) may not have been correctly welded. This can cause noises on the front seats and in an accident the backrest/s can break. There is an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and check the production date of the backrest frames of the front seats. Where the date is within the affected range the backrest/s will be replaced.
Recalled models: POLO · 207 vehicles
Unintentional airbag deployment
In rare cases an air bag acceleration sensor may give an incorrect signal which can lead to an unintentional airbag deployment
Fix: Recall vehicle check if vehicle is affected and replace the control unit as required.
Recalled models: POLO · 526 vehicles
Fuel may leak
On affected vehicles the fuel filter may crack around inlet connection. This will allow fuel to leak which may cause a smell within the vehicle interior and possibly contaminate the road environment. This may affect the handling of the vehicle and of other traffic..
Fix: Check type of filter fitted. If not of improved type then replace with improved filter.
Recalled models: POLO · 18,314 vehicles
Seat may catch fire
It has been identified that due to an incorrectly sewn-in tension wire strap for the back-rest cover of the front seats there may be contact between the tension wire of the seat and the filaments of the seat heater. The resulting short circuit can lead to fire damage on the front seat covers.
Fix: Recalled vehicles will have the tension wires of the front seats insulated.
Recalled models: POLO · 433 vehicles
Bolts of the tandem fuel pump cover may break
It is advised that on some vehicles fitted with a 3 and 4 cylinder pump injector engine the bolts of the tandem fuel pump cover may break due to a bolt production fault. As a result the pump housing will not be tight and a diesel fuel leak may occur.
Fix: Recalled vehicles will have the pump checked for being of a certain manufacture. If found to be within the affected range the pump housing cover bolts will be replaced.
Recalled models: POLO · 49,701 vehicles
Tension cracks may occur on the vacuum pipe to the servo
Tension cracks may occur on the vacuum pipe to the brake servo in the area of the connections due to a manufacturing fault. Should a vacuum pipe leak the brake servo will loose it's function. This will result in an increase of force which must be applied to the brake pedal. But will not result in a total failure of the braking system.
Fix: Recalled vehicles will have the vacuum pipes checked and if necessary replaced.
Recalled models: POLO · 6,774 vehicles
Clutch operation may be affected
A fracture may occur in the area of the clutch pedal attachment because of poor welding which may affect the operation of the clutch.
Fix: On all affected vehicles an additional foot pedal support (additional welding seam) will be fitted
Recalled models: POLO · 3,497 vehicles
Brake vacuum supply pipe concern
On Polo and Lupo vehicles in the affected chassis number range tension cracks may occur on the vacuum pipe to the brake servo in the area of the connections of the pipes because of a manufacturing fault. If a vacuum pipe leaks the brake servo loses its function. Without the servo assistance a lot more force must be used on the pedal. But this will not lead to a total failure of the brake system.
Fix: The fitted vacuum pipes will be checked and if necessary replaced.
Recalled models: POLO · 120,978 vehicles
Loss of tyre pressure
The valve hole in the steel road wheel is 0.5mm out of its correct position. This results in a poor valve fit and loss of tyre air pressure.
Fix: The affected vehicles are being recalled to have the original wheels replaced with quality assured examples.
Recalled models: POLO · 2,670 vehicles
Brake pipes may chafe on other components
On the subject vehicles it is possible that the brake pipe holder may not have been correctly positioned on the steering rack. This could allow the brake pipe to chafe on adjoining components and cause pipe damage.
Fix: Recall the affected vehicles and if necessary modify the position of the pipe holder and pipes to eliminate the possibility of the pipes chafing on other components.
Recalled models: POLO · 42,414 vehicles
Checking a Volkswagen Polo before you buy
Look at the parts above at the viewing, and read the car’s own MOT history: advisories for the same parts suggest the problem is already starting. Sweep’s free check shows every MOT, advisory and mileage reading for a registration.