Volkswagen Lupo
From 10,180 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and exhaust system leaking or insecure. The top issue, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 544 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 544 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 477 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 324 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 320 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 244 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 244 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 234 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 208 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 203 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 196 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 25.5% of Lupo failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 22.7% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £134.
Volkswagen Lupo on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 873 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 11 newly registered, a net loss of 862. At this rate, roughly 9.8 years until none remain. Now at 30% of its peak (28,151 in 2005 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 4,537 | 3,916 | +3 | -155 | -152 |
| 2025 Q2 | 4,739 | 3,866 | +1 | -146 | -145 |
| 2025 Q1 | 4,856 | 3,894 | +6 | -261 | -255 |
| 2024 Q4 | 5,130 | 3,875 | +1 | -311 | -310 |
| 2024 Q3 | 5,355 | 3,960 | +1 | -251 | -250 |
| 2024 Q2 | 5,565 | 4,000 | +4 | -152 | -148 |
| 2024 Q1 | 5,733 | 3,980 | +4 | -199 | -195 |
| 2023 Q4 | 5,937 | 3,971 | +2 | -182 | -180 |
11 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lupo E | Diesel | 1,878 | 42% |
| Lupo S | Diesel | 566 | 13% |
| Lupo S Auto | Petrol | 507 | 11% |
| Lupo Gti | Petrol | 408 | 9% |
| Lupo Sport Tdi | Diesel | 272 | 6% |
| Lupo Se 50 Bhp | Diesel | 242 | 5% |
| Lupo E Auto | Petrol | 203 | 5% |
| Lupo S Sdi | Diesel | 129 | 3% |
| Lupo E Sdi | Diesel | 112 | 2% |
| Lupo Sport | Diesel | 104 | 2% |
| Lupo Se 75 Bhp | Petrol | 70 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 71.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2004 | 71.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2003 | 70.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2002 | 66.4% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
3 earlier years
| 2001 | 68% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2000 | 68.8% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, exhaust system leaking or insecure |
| 1999 | 71.1% | emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Lupos tested had between 44,967 and 104,288 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 68,722 median miles, the Lupo has 0.045 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Volkswagen models
| Volkswagen Golf | 79.1% |
| Volkswagen Polo | 73.8% |
| Volkswagen Transporter | 73.8% |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 84.6% |
| Volkswagen Passat | 76.9% |
Common questions
What is the Volkswagen Lupo MOT pass rate?
The Volkswagen Lupo has a 69.3% MOT pass rate based on 10,180 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Lupo?
The most common MOT failure on the Volkswagen Lupo is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 544 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Volkswagen Lupos are on UK roads?
There are 4,537 Volkswagen Lupos currently licensed on UK roads, with 3,916 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volkswagen Lupo at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volkswagen Lupo is 68,722 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 44,967 and 104,288 miles.
Buying a used Lupo?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 69.3% pass rate and an average repair bill of £134 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 25.5% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.