Volvo V90
From 17,139 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer V90s fare better: 2020 models pass at 88.1% vs 83.6% for 2016.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a tyre seriously damaged and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. The top issue, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, caused 435 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 brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 435 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 399 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 277 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 239 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 226 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 134 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 121 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 78 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 68 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 64 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 17% of V90 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 59% 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 £115.
Volvo V90 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 743 newly registered in the past year with 335 leaving, a net gain of 408. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 17,398 | 279 | +81 | -187 | -106 |
| 2025 Q2 | 17,554 | 229 | +219 | -63 | +156 |
| 2025 Q1 | 17,406 | 221 | +213 | -71 | +142 |
| 2024 Q4 | 17,269 | 216 | +230 | -14 | +216 |
| 2024 Q3 | 17,058 | 211 | +121 | -22 | +99 |
| 2024 Q2 | 16,976 | 194 | +78 | -14 | +64 |
| 2024 Q1 | 16,908 | 198 | +57 | -0 | +71 |
| 2023 Q4 | 16,834 | 201 | +119 | -0 | +162 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| V90 Momentum D4 Auto | Diesel | 1,570 | 15% |
| V90 R-Design D4 Auto | Diesel | 1,531 | 14% |
| V90 Momentum + T4 Auto | Petrol | 1,047 | 10% |
| V90 Inscripton D4 Auto | Diesel | 884 | 8% |
| V90 Cross Country Pro D4 Awd A | Diesel | 493 | 5% |
| V90 Momentum B4 Mhev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Diesel) | 481 | 4% |
| V90 Inscription D5 Pp Awd A | Diesel | 438 | 4% |
| V90 Cross Country + D4 Awd A | Diesel | 426 | 4% |
| V90 R-Design Pro D5 Pp Awd A | Diesel | 414 | 4% |
| V90 C-Country Pro D5 Pp Awd A | Diesel | 374 | 3% |
| V90 Momentum + D4 Auto | Diesel | 374 | 3% |
| V90 R-Design + D4 Auto | Diesel | 343 | 3% |
| V90 Cross Country D4 Awd Auto | Diesel | 331 | 3% |
| V90 Core B6 Mhev Awd Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 307 | 3% |
| V90 R-Design B4 Mhev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Diesel) | 300 | 3% |
| V90 Cross Country D5 Pp Awd A | Diesel | 293 | 3% |
| V90 Inscription D4 Auto | Diesel | 279 | 3% |
| V90 Momentum T4 Auto | Petrol | 279 | 3% |
| V90 + T6 Phev Awd Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 272 | 3% |
| V90 R-Design + T4 Auto | Petrol | 270 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 88.1% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a 13 pin trailer socket not functioning correctly |
| 2019 | 86% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 88.1% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2017 | 85.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
3 earlier years
| 2016 | 83.6% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 1998 | 76.4% | exhaust system leaking or insecure, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1997 | 76.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all V90s tested had between 48,102 and 81,364 miles on the clock.
At 66,943 median miles, the V90 has 0.02 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 V90 MOT pass rate?
The Volvo V90 has a 86.4% MOT pass rate based on 17,139 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volvo V90?
The most common MOT failure on the Volvo V90 is a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, which caused 435 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
How many Volvo V90s are on UK roads?
There are 17,398 Volvo V90s currently licensed on UK roads, with 279 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volvo V90 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volvo V90 is 66,943 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 48,102 and 81,364 miles.
Buying a used V90?
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.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
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.