Currently 5101 Recalls

Reliability of the Volkswagen Polo

Last update 16. 02. 2024

The ADAC breakdown statistics determine which Volkswagen models are the most reliable and which have broken down most – a good help when buying a used Volkswagen Polo.

In the statistics for 2023, all the breakdowns for which the German Yellow Angels had to move out in 2022 were recorded and evaluated. There is enough data available that gives an objective picture of the reliability of the Volkswagen Polo.

Listed are all breakdowns of the vehicles between 3 and 10 years old. Causes such as an empty fuel tank (as a clearly self-inflicted breakdown) or tyre defects are not included in the ADAC reliability index. The evaluation of the breakdown frequency follows the colour scheme from dark green (= very low ) to red (= very high).

Volkswagen Polo Reliability

Breakdowns in the 2022 calendar year

EZ 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
index 1,7 2,4 3,4 5,3 9,3 12,7 14,5 14,8


Breakdowns in the 2020 calendar year

EZ 2011 EZ 2012 EZ 2013 EZ 2014 EZ 2015 EZ 2016 EZ 2017 EZ 2018
20,6 19,5 16,0 15,8 9,1 6,3 3,0 0,6

Breakdowns in the 2019 calendar year

EZ 2010 EZ 2011 EZ 2012 EZ 2013 EZ 2014 EZ 2015 EZ 2016 EZ 2017
24,4 21,6 18,7 15,7 15,8 8,3 4,5 4,1

Legend: Number of breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles registered (= breakdown index) by year of first registration (EZ)

Common Breakdowns

  • Timing chain (2010)

Source: ADAC

owner  VW Polo owners’ reviews

If you wish to know more about eventual problems of a specific car (e.g. real mileage, potential traffic accidents damages, odometer rollback, repairs, etc.), then we suggest going to this page.

Check the vehicle’s history

See the Reliability of other Makes


Recent Polo Recalls

10/08/2025
If the front passenger airbag is deployed as a result of an accident, the gas generator housing may burst or components of the gas...
28/02/2025
The propellant can deteriorate due to high humidity and temperature variations. In the event of an accident in which the front air...
19/06/2023
The airbag propellant may be faulty. In the event of an accident this can lead to the release of fragments from the inflator housi...
Do you know the year Your car was made? You most likely don't.