Volvo V50
From 53,418 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer V50s fare better: 2012 models pass at 72% vs 66.9% for 2004.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are 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 and a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 3,761 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 | 3,761 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 2,282 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 2,000 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,738 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 1,606 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,585 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 1,505 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 1,329 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 1,322 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 894 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 23.8% of V50 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 37.2% 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 £120.
Volvo V50 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 3,356 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 16 newly registered, a net loss of 3,340. At this rate, roughly 8.4 years until none remain. Now at 53.9% of its peak (51,721 in 2012 Q3).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 24,347 | 3,555 | +2 | -755 | -753 |
| 2025 Q2 | 25,185 | 3,470 | +3 | -889 | -886 |
| 2025 Q1 | 26,060 | 3,481 | +7 | -904 | -897 |
| 2024 Q4 | 27,108 | 3,330 | +4 | -808 | -804 |
| 2024 Q3 | 28,043 | 3,199 | +8 | -877 | -869 |
| 2024 Q2 | 28,944 | 3,167 | +3 | -800 | -797 |
| 2024 Q1 | 29,763 | 3,145 | +2 | -901 | -899 |
| 2023 Q4 | 30,778 | 3,029 | +6 | -689 | -683 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| V50 Se Lux Edition Drive S/S | Diesel | 1,895 | 11% |
| V50 Se D (E4) | Diesel | 1,368 | 8% |
| V50 Se D | Diesel | 1,225 | 7% |
| V50 S D Drive | Diesel | 1,126 | 7% |
| V50 Se D Drive | Diesel | 1,102 | 7% |
| V50 Se Lux D Drive | Diesel | 950 | 6% |
| V50 S D | Diesel | 898 | 5% |
| V50 S 16V | Petrol | 854 | 5% |
| V50 Se | Diesel | 781 | 5% |
| V50 Se Lux D | Diesel | 736 | 4% |
| V50 Se Edition Drive S/S | Diesel | 729 | 4% |
| V50 Sport D | Diesel | 716 | 4% |
| V50 S | Diesel | 698 | 4% |
| V50 Se Semi-Auto | Petrol | 672 | 4% |
| V50 Se Lux Drive Start/Stop | Diesel | 558 | 3% |
| V50 S D (E4) | Diesel | 513 | 3% |
| V50 Es Drive Start/Stop | Diesel | 496 | 3% |
| V50 R-Design D2 | Diesel | 454 | 3% |
| V50 R-Design Edition D2 | Diesel | 441 | 3% |
| V50 Se 16V | Gas | 395 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 72% | 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 | 68.1% | 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 | 67.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2009 | 67.3% | 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 |
5 earlier years
| 2008 | 65% | 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 |
| 2007 | 66.9% | 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 |
| 2006 | 65.7% | 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 |
| 2005 | 65.5% | 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 |
| 2004 | 66.9% | 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 |
Typical mileage
Half of all V50s tested had between 92,045 and 161,126 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 125,581 median miles, the V50 has 0.026 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 V50 MOT pass rate?
The Volvo V50 has a 67.4% MOT pass rate based on 53,418 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volvo V50?
The most common MOT failure on the Volvo V50 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 3,761 failures. Other common issues include a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
How many Volvo V50s are on UK roads?
There are 24,347 Volvo V50s currently licensed on UK roads, with 3,555 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volvo V50 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volvo V50 is 125,581 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 92,045 and 161,126 miles.
Buying a used V50?
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 67.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £120 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.