Volvo C30
From 41,711 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer C30s fare better: 2013 models pass at 75.9% vs 67.4% for 2007.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources, a lamp missing and inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 2,651 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 2,651 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 1,669 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,434 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,142 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 1,063 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 1,059 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 1,011 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 909 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 826 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 808 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 17.5% of C30 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 36.4% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £100.
Volvo C30 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 1,498 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 11 newly registered, a net loss of 1,487. At this rate, roughly 14.2 years until none remain. Now at 71% of its peak (29,868 in 2013 Q2).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 19,272 | 1,925 | +3 | -377 | -374 |
| 2025 Q2 | 19,687 | 1,884 | +0 | -382 | -382 |
| 2025 Q1 | 20,125 | 1,828 | +2 | -445 | -443 |
| 2024 Q4 | 20,703 | 1,693 | +6 | -294 | -288 |
| 2024 Q3 | 21,113 | 1,571 | +1 | -372 | -371 |
| 2024 Q2 | 21,567 | 1,488 | +2 | -417 | -415 |
| 2024 Q1 | 21,980 | 1,490 | +0 | -393 | -393 |
| 2023 Q4 | 22,437 | 1,426 | +4 | -301 | -297 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| C30 R-Design | Diesel | 2,947 | 20% |
| C30 Sport 16V | Petrol | 1,631 | 11% |
| C30 R-Design D2 | Diesel | 1,473 | 10% |
| C30 R-Design Drive D | Diesel | 1,073 | 7% |
| C30 Se | Petrol | 783 | 5% |
| C30 S D Drive | Diesel | 743 | 5% |
| C30 S | Petrol | 665 | 5% |
| C30 Sport D | Diesel | 658 | 4% |
| C30 Se D Drive | Diesel | 629 | 4% |
| C30 Se Lux | Petrol | 574 | 4% |
| C30 R-Design D3 | Diesel | 460 | 3% |
| C30 R-Design Lux D2 | Diesel | 443 | 3% |
| C30 Se Drive Lux Start/Stop | Diesel | 379 | 3% |
| C30 R-Design Lux | Petrol | 378 | 3% |
| C30 Se Lux D Drive | Diesel | 370 | 3% |
| C30 Se Drive Start/Stop | Diesel | 332 | 2% |
| C30 R-Design D | Diesel | 329 | 2% |
| C30 Se Lux D2 | Diesel | 298 | 2% |
| C30 S Drive D | Diesel | 245 | 2% |
| C30 Se Sport Diesel | Diesel | 228 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 75.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2012 | 72.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2011 | 70.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2010 | 69.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
4 earlier years
| 2009 | 68.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources |
| 2008 | 67.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources |
| 2007 | 67.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources |
| 2006 | 73.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps |
Typical mileage
Half of all C30s tested had between 76,349 and 128,658 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 100,165 median miles, the C30 has 0.03 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Volvo models
| Volvo Xc60 | 82.7% |
| Volvo V40 | 79% |
| Volvo Xc90 | 78% |
| Volvo Xc40 | 91.2% |
| Volvo V70 | 72% |
Common questions
What is the Volvo C30 MOT pass rate?
The Volvo C30 has a 69.8% MOT pass rate based on 41,711 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volvo C30?
The most common MOT failure on the Volvo C30 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 2,651 failures. Other common issues include a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources.
How many Volvo C30s are on UK roads?
There are 19,272 Volvo C30s currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,925 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volvo C30 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volvo C30 is 100,165 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 76,349 and 128,658 miles.
Buying a used C30?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 69.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £100 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.