MOT performance
Volvo C30 petrol: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 19,450 MOT tests on petrol Volvo C30s in 2023–2024 (on average 13.5 years old at test, median 89,398 miles), 60.2% passed first time, against 57.9% of 27,718 diesel Volvo C30 tests. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, petrol Volvo C30s failed about as often as comparable cars — 0.97× against 1.03× for the Volvo C30 as a whole.
19,450 MOT tests on 9,964 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 60.2% | ±0.7 pts (95%), n = 19,450 |
| All Volvo C30s | 58.8% | n = 47,168 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.97× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00; Volvo C30 overall 1.03× |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 11.8% | n = 19,450 |
| Average age at test | 13.5 years | n = 19,450 |
| Registration years covered | 2001–2013 | DVSA first-use date |
Petrol against the other Volvo C30 fuels
Official DVSA test results by fuel, with 73 Auto's adjusted ratio (failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel).
| Fuel | Tests | Average age | First-time pass | vs similar cars | Dangerous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 27,718 | 13 yrs | 57.9% | +7% | 13.4% |
| Petrol | 19,450 | 13.5 yrs | 60.2% | -3% | 11.8% |
Where petrol Volvo C30s differ
- Steering: petrol Volvo C30s failed 30% more often than the Volvo C30 overall, relative to comparable cars (1.22× vs 0.94×).
- Body, chassis and structure: petrol Volvo C30s failed 25% less often than the Volvo C30 overall, relative to comparable cars (0.85× vs 1.14×).
| Area | Petrol (vs similar) | All Volvo C30s (vs similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 18.2% (-6%) | 18.9% (+5%) |
| Suspension | 15.9% (+2%) | 16.0% (+1%) |
| Tyres | 8.8% (+18%) | 9.4% (+24%) |
| Brakes | 8.4% (-15%) | 8.9% (-12%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 5.8% (-11%) | 5.9% (-2%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 5.2% (-15%) | 6.7% (+14%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.0% (-34%) | 3.7% (-25%) |
| Steering | 3.5% (+22%) | 3.1% (-6%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.9% (-35%) | 1.0% (-35%) |
Most common petrol Volvo C30 failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 6.03% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 4.82% |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 4.10% |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.52% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 3.23% |
Pass rate by age, by fuel
| Age at test (years) | petrol pass rate (tests) | diesel pass rate (tests) |
|---|---|---|
| 9-10 | 72.4% (1,383) | 65.2% (1,674) |
| 11-12 | 65.7% (4,141) | 60.0% (8,463) |
| 13-15 | 57.4% (10,963) | 56.6% (15,686) |
| 16+ | 57.0% (2,963) | 53.4% (1,895) |
Volvo C30 by registration year
Registration-year pages cover every fuel of that year.
- 2007 Volvo C30 · 56.5%
- 2008 Volvo C30 · 54.5%
- 2009 Volvo C30 · 57.2%
- 2010 Volvo C30 · 58.5%
- 2011 Volvo C30 · 60.0%
- 2012 Volvo C30 · 65.0%
What this does and doesn't tell you
Fuel is DVSA's recorded fuel type; plug-in and self-charging hybrids are grouped as hybrid. A difference between fuels can come from the engines themselves, or from how the cars are used — diesels typically cover more miles, and the adjusted ratio allows for mileage band but not for every difference in use. For one car, its own MOT history is the better guide: see MOT check.
Check a specific petrol Volvo C30
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
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.