Volkswagen Lupo (2002)

5,901 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74.7% first-time pass rate

2002 Volkswagen Lupo

CarHunch analysed 5,901 real MOT records for the 2002 Volkswagen Lupo. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 5.3% below UK average
74.7%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
58,673
typical mileage
43,350–74,224 middle half
35.5%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
4.86
avg MOT failures per car
over 18.4 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.9 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

75.1%
Petrol
5,203 vehicles
72.2%
Diesel
698 vehicles

What to check before buying a 2002 Volkswagen Lupo

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 35.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Volkswagen Lupo

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (88%) 5,203 75.1% 4.75
Diesel (12%) 698 72.2% 5.64

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Volkswagen Lupo vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

43,350
low mileage
58,673
typical
74,224
high mileage

Half of all 2002 Volkswagen Lupo vehicles fall between 43,350 and 74,224 miles.

2002 Volkswagen Lupo — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 1,162 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (23% of peak).

4,965 1,162 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

18.4
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
4.86
Avg failures per vehicle
24.6
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2002 Volkswagen Lupo

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 74%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 69.5%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 46%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 38.3%
    Oil leak
  • 36%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 33.7%
    Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
  • 30.9%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 30.8%
    Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Volkswagen Lupo?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Volkswagen Lupo:

1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005