City car · 1998–2013 cars
Volkswagen Lupo reliability
The Volkswagen Lupo fails 39.8% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage, based on 23,320 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Volkswagen Lupo before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 39.8%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 1% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 23,320
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Volkswagen Lupo ages
Each point is the share of Volkswagen Lupos of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Volkswagen Lupo | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | 36.9% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 38.3% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 40% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 40.2% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 40.8% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 41% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 40.7% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 35.5% | 37.1% |
By year
The best and worst Volkswagen Lupo years
2005 cars come out best and 1999 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Lupo | 1,578 | 34.7% | 12% fewer fails | 75,486 |
| 2004 Lupo | 3,927 | 38.6% | 4% fewer fails | 79,614 |
| 2003 Lupo | 3,762 | 39.3% | 3% fewer fails | 83,065 |
| 2002 Lupo | 5,412 | 42.2% | 6% more fails | 83,888 |
| 2001 Lupo | 3,960 | 41% | 3% more fails | 87,332 |
| 2000 Lupo | 2,921 | 39.4% | 3% more fails | 85,843 |
| 1999 Lupo | 1,723 | 38.5% | 6% more fails | 84,277 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Volkswagen Lupo
Its weak spot is exhaust, emissions and leaks: 87% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics17.9%3% below avg
- Suspension12.7%11% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks12.3%87% above avg
- Brakes11.2%7% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure9.1%8% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors8%9% above avg
- Tyres5.8%3% above avg
- Steering2.8%17% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.8%38% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Exhaust has major gas leak 3.81% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 2
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 3.75% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 3
Lambda reading outside specified limits 3.69% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 4
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 3.26% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 5
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 3.22% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 6
Position lamp not working 2.8% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 7
CV joint boot split or insecure 2.66% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 8
Stop lamp not working 2.45% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Volkswagen Lupo's MOT certificate most often.
- Engine oil leak, not excessive13.27%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit13.17%
- Coil spring showing some corrosion11.04%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy10.9%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking9.69%
- Exhaust has minor gas leak9.55%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Volkswagen Lupo
- 1
Exhaust has major gas leak
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 2
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 3
Lambda reading outside specified limits
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 4
Engine warning light inoperative or lit
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol89%
- Diesel11%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Silver, Blue, Black, Red, Green
Average engine size: 1.3 litres.
Compare
How the Volkswagen Lupo compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Abarth 500 | 29.9% | about average for its age |
| Mitsubishi Mirage | 18.1% | about average for its age |
| Volkswagen Lupo | 39.8% | about average for its age |
| Daihatsu Sirion | 37.8% | about average for its age |
| Smart City Coupe | 41.1% | 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai Amica | 43% | 23% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chrysler Ypsilon | 36.3% | 29% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every city car ranked in the city car reliability index, or all Volkswagen models.
Questions
Volkswagen Lupo questions, answered
Is the Volkswagen Lupo reliable?
On MOT results, the Volkswagen Lupo is about average: it fails 39.8% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage. It ranks 10 of 43 city car models in our index.
What fails most on a Volkswagen Lupo MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Volkswagen Lupo are exhaust has major gas leak (3.81% of tests), headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect (3.75% of tests), lambda reading outside specified limits (3.69% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 17.9% of its tests.
Which Volkswagen Lupo year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2005 cars do best (12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 1999 cars do worst (6% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Volkswagen Lupo before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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