Which Volvo models fail their MOT most
23% of Volvo cars fail first time, against 24.5% across every make. That is 1.5 points better than average, measured over 379,642 DVSA tests on 13 models.
Every Volvo in the data
Sorted by how many tests each one contributes, so the models most people actually buy come first. A linked row has a page of its own.
| Model | Years | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| V40 | 2014–2017 | 61,243 | 27% |
| XC60 | 2014–2017 | 51,294 | 21% |
| XC40 | 2018–2021 | 38,878 | 10.1% |
| V40 | 2018–2021 | 21,368 | 16.8% |
| XC60 | 2010–2013 | 19,169 | 29.2% |
| XC60 | 2018–2021 | 17,532 | 11% |
| XC90 | 2010–2013 | 15,933 | 33.6% |
| XC90 | 2014–2017 | 15,866 | 19.9% |
| V60 | 2014–2017 | 14,130 | 22% |
| V40 | 2010–2013 | 13,852 | 32.2% |
| C30 | 2010–2013 | 12,830 | 38% |
| V50 | 2010–2013 | 12,770 | 42.7% |
| XC90 | 2018–2021 | 12,131 | 14% |
| V60 | 2010–2013 | 11,149 | 29.2% |
| V70 | 2010–2013 | 8,400 | 27.5% |
| V60 | 2018–2021 | 7,383 | 14.6% |
| V90 | 2018–2021 | 6,628 | 14.5% |
| XC70 | 2010–2013 | 6,197 | 28.3% |
| S60 | 2010–2013 | 5,934 | 27.6% |
| S40 | 2010–2013 | 5,141 | 41.2% |
| S60 | 2014–2017 | 5,027 | 20.8% |
| V70 | 2014–2017 | 4,777 | 19.2% |
| XC70 | 2014–2017 | 4,402 | 21.2% |
| S90 | 2018–2021 | 4,257 | 11.7% |
| V90 | 2014–2017 | 3,351 | 15.1% |
How a Volvo ages
The same manufacturer at three ages. Every make gets worse with age; what differs is how steeply, and that is the part worth knowing before you choose between a cheaper older one and a dearer newer one.
2018–2021
12.6%
108,177 tests
2014–2017
23.1%
160,090 tests
2010–2013
33.1%
111,375 tests
Best and worst in the range
Least likely to fail
- 10.1% XC40 2018–2021
- 11% XC60 2018–2021
- 14% XC90 2018–2021
Most likely to fail
- 42.7% V50 2010–2013
- 41.2% S40 2010–2013
- 38% C30 2010–2013
Cohorts with at least 5,000 tests only, so a rare model cannot top either list on thin evidence.
What actually fails on a Volvo
Pooled across the whole range and weighted by test count. One model's worst fault is a fact about that model; the same fault across the range is a fact about the make.
- 3.6% Coil spring fractured or broken
- 2.7% Brake linings and pads less than 1.5 mm thick
- 2.1% Tyres tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
- 1.7% Tyres has ply or cords exposed
- 1.5% Tyres has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
- 1.1% Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
Free · no account, no card
Check the actual Volvo you're looking at
This page is the make. Type the registration and you get that car's own MOT history, its mileage record, its tax status and the questions to ask the seller before you travel.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023. Class 4 standard tests only. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Volvo and its marks are the property of their owner and are used here to identify the manufacturer this page is about.