MOT performance
Volvo MOT pass rates and common failures
Across 1,161,658 MOT tests of Volvo cars in 2023–2024, 73.6% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Volvos failed 7% less often than comparable cars. Of the 15 Volvo models with enough tests, the Volvo S90 failed least often relative to comparable cars.
1,161,658 MOT tests on 611,447 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 73.6% | ±0.1 pts (95%), n = 1,161,658 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.93× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 8.9% | n = 1,161,658 |
| Average age at test | 9.3 years | n = 1,161,658 |
Volvo models
Every Volvo model with at least 10,000 tests, most-tested first.
| Model | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo XC60 | 216,923 | 80.3% | 0.81× |
| Volvo V40 | 199,307 | 73.1% | 1.08× |
| Volvo XC90 | 140,093 | 73.1% | 0.91× |
| Volvo XC40 | 119,449 | 90.2% | 0.75× |
| Volvo V70 | 86,581 | 63.2% | 0.89× |
| Volvo V60 | 77,102 | 78.1% | 0.85× |
| Volvo V50 | 63,673 | 54.8% | 1.06× |
| Volvo C30 | 47,168 | 58.8% | 1.03× |
| Volvo S60 | 41,745 | 71.4% | 0.85× |
| Volvo S40 | 39,163 | 56.8% | 1.03× |
| Volvo XC70 | 35,465 | 68.6% | 0.82× |
| Volvo V90 | 30,109 | 84.7% | 0.85× |
| Volvo C70 | 16,441 | 59.3% | 1.00× |
| Volvo S90 | 15,103 | 87.3% | 0.70× |
| Volvo S80 | 14,890 | 68.3% | 0.79× |
Where Volvos fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 9.3% | -17% |
| Suspension | 7.6% | -17% |
| Tyres | 7.0% | +5% |
| Brakes | 6.9% | -3% |
| Driver's view of the road | 3.2% | -31% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 2.9% | -22% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.1% | -32% |
| Steering | 2.1% | Same |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.7% | -41% |
| Road wheels | 0.3% | -26% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.3% | -21% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | +33% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 3.01% |
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.70% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 2.60% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.24% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 2.00% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 1.78% |
| Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | Body, chassis and structure | 1.55% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 1.43% |
| Headlamp aim: too low | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.21% |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 1.17% |
Pass rate by age
| Age at test (years) | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 192,276 | 88.0% | -16% |
| 5-6 | 172,133 | 82.5% | -9% |
| 7-8 | 161,144 | 75.7% | -5% |
| 9-10 | 127,771 | 71.4% | -11% |
| 11-12 | 109,664 | 66.0% | -10% |
| 13-15 | 146,522 | 60.5% | -7% |
| 16+ | 175,630 | 57.0% | -1% |
MOT failures where Volvo stands out
Individual failure items that Volvos record clearly more or less often than cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. All Volvo MOT failure patterns.
- Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn · 0.62× comparable cars
Check a specific Volvo
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About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.