1996 Volkswagen Polo 1.4L Petrol · P188 GKL
1996 Volkswagen Polo (1.4L, petrol). First registered 17 Aug 1996. Recorded mileage 79,383 miles. MOT expired on 25 Jul 2026.
- Make & Model
- VOLKSWAGEN POLO
- Year / Origin
- 1996 · Preston
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Expired on 25 Jul 2026
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- 79,383 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 1.4L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
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P188 GKL Key Findings
- 4 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 26/07/2025
- 79,383 miles recorded at latest MOT
- No defects recorded at the latest MOT
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
P188 GKL MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
4 MOT tests are recorded for this 1996 Volkswagen Polo (P188 GKL) between July 2022 and July 2025.
The record contains 4 passes and 0 failures.
No failures or advisories appear anywhere in the recorded tests, so the documented MOT record is relatively clean.
P188 GKL Mileage History
- 23/07/202273,269 mi
- 24/07/202375,949 mi+2,680 mi
- 26/07/202477,657 mi+1,708 mi
- 26/07/202579,383 mi+1,726 mi
Average of roughly 2,032 miles per year across 4 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence
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Known faults for Volkswagen Volkswagen Polo Mk3 (6N/6N2)
Our database tracks 4 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: Average
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
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VOLKSWAGEN POLO Model Intelligence & Reliability
Verified MOT failure trends, buying advice, and technical directory specifications.
Owner-reported defects, recurring MOT failure points, and estimated repair costs.
Browse production generations, registration statistics, and trim variants.
Historical MOT pass rates and DVLA records for 1996 model year cars.
- Pedal Box Bracket Weld Fracture & Clutch Cable MisalignmentSerious
The spot-welded steel pedal box bracket can flex and crack under repetitive clutch actuation, causing the clutch pedal to drop to the floor or the clutch cable to snap.
- 085 5-Speed Manual Gearbox 5th Gear Whine & Bearing FailureSerious
The lightweight 085 5-speed manual gearbox suffers from premature output shaft bearing wear and 5th gear oil starvation if the transmission fluid level drops even slightly past the selector shaft seal.
- Ignition Coil Pack Moisture Tracking & Distributor Hall Sensor FailureModerate
The single-block ignition coil pack mounted to the bulkhead is prone to micro-cracking in damp UK weather, while earlier distributor-equipped models suffer from failed Hall effect sensors causing sudden engine cutting.
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