MOT pass rates / Volvo
Volvo MOT pass rates and common failures
Volvo cars passed 72.9% of their MOTs first time in 2024, across 464,348 class-4 initial tests and 31 model groups. That is above the 71.2% UK average, and ranks Volvo 28th of 59 makes in the dataset.
Pass rates track age more strongly than badge: an older Volvo is compared here against older cars of every other make, so read the age table below before drawing conclusions about the brand.
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What Volvo cars fail on
The items most often behind a first-test failure across Volvo model groups, as a share of Volvo tests. DVSA publishes each model group's six most common categories, so this ranks the biggest published causes rather than every possible one.
- Condition — 4.8% of Volvo tests. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Headlamp Aim — 2.9% of Volvo tests. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Brake Performance — 2.6% of Volvo tests. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
- Position Lamps — 2.4% of Volvo tests. A side or tail light out. Usually a bulb.
- Mechanical Brake Components — 2.3% of Volvo tests. Worn discs, pads or callipers. Routine wear, but it should be priced into the deal.
- Springs — 2.1% of Volvo tests. A broken or sagging coil spring. Replaced in pairs, so it is not the cheapest failure.
- Suspension Arms — 1.9% of Volvo tests. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.
- Tread Depth — 1.3% of Volvo tests. Tyres below the 1.6mm legal limit. Budget for tyres, and treat it as a sign of how the car was maintained.
Volvo MOT pass rate by age
| Age at test | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 84,765 | 88.8% |
| 6–9 years | 148,326 | 79.3% |
| 10–14 years | 127,507 | 67.3% |
| 15–30 years | 103,679 | 57.8% |
Volvo models by MOT pass rate
| Model | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Xc60 | 83,913 | 77.6% |
| V40 | 78,789 | 73% |
| Xc90 | 51,474 | 70.8% |
| Xc40 | 47,036 | 89.4% |
| V70 | 32,720 | 63.3% |
| V50 | 26,881 | 54.8% |
| V60 | 24,291 | 75.3% |
| C30 | 20,791 | 58.5% |
| S40 | 16,704 | 57% |
| S60 | 15,844 | 69.6% |
| Xc70 | 15,188 | 69.5% |
| V90 | 9,079 | 82.9% |
| C70 | 6,698 | 59% |
| S80 | 6,457 | 67.9% |
| S90 | 3,854 | 86.7% |
| 900 Series | 2,224 | 62% |
| Xc40 Inscription PRO B4 MHEV A | 2,166 | 93.1% |
| Xc40 Inscript PRO T5 Rcharge A | 1,782 | 91.9% |
| Xc90 R-design B5 MHEV AWD Auto | 1,771 | 85.8% |
| Xc40 R-design PRO B4 MHEV Auto | 1,710 | 91.5% |
| Xc40 R-design T4 Recharge Auto | 1,696 | 92.2% |
| Xc40 Rdesign PRO T5 Recharge A | 1,678 | 89.3% |
| 800 Series | 1,582 | 62.4% |
| Xc40 R-design B4 MHEV Auto | 1,436 | 93.8% |
| Xc90 Momentum B5 MHEV AWD Auto | 1,365 | 88.9% |
| Xc40 Inscription B4 MHEV Auto | 1,310 | 93.7% |
| Xc60 Edition T4 Auto | 1,296 | 88.9% |
| Xc40 R-design T5 Recharge Auto | 1,238 | 92.3% |
| Xc60 Momentum B5 MHEV Auto | 1,207 | 93.7% |
| Xc40 Inscription B4 MHEV AWD A | 1,108 | 92.8% |
| V90 Momentum + T4 Auto | 1,060 | 85.6% |
Methodology and limitations
MOT outcomes describe testable items at the time of inspection. They are not a measure of overall mechanical reliability.
Scope: Class 4 normal initial MOT tests completed in 2024. Models require at least 1,000 qualifying tests. Duplicate source rows are removed using official DVSA test IDs.
Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published 2025-05-23 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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