Volvo Xc90
From 99,884 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Xc90s fare better: 2020 models pass at 89% vs 66% for 2003.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are 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 and parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 3,737 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 | 3,737 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 2,849 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 2,385 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 2,172 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,934 |
| parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 1,932 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 1,832 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 1,472 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 1,224 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 1,072 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 56.9% of Xc90 failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 9.4% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £120.
Fuel type matters
Hybrid versions pass at 87.5% while Diesel versions pass at 76.7%, a 11 percentage point gap.
Volvo Xc90 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 8,285 newly registered in the past year with 3,589 leaving, a net gain of 4,696. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 90,170 | 6,202 | +2,150 | -626 | +1,524 |
| 2025 Q2 | 88,816 | 6,032 | +1,803 | -808 | +995 |
| 2025 Q1 | 88,159 | 5,694 | +2,352 | -1,334 | +1,018 |
| 2024 Q4 | 87,164 | 5,671 | +1,980 | -821 | +1,159 |
| 2024 Q3 | 86,320 | 5,356 | +2,663 | -1,123 | +1,540 |
| 2024 Q2 | 85,040 | 5,096 | +2,511 | -957 | +1,554 |
| 2024 Q1 | 83,442 | 5,140 | +2,111 | -753 | +1,358 |
| 2023 Q4 | 82,435 | 4,789 | +1,761 | -981 | +780 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xc90 + B5 Mhev Awd Auto | Hybrid Electric (Diesel) | 6,337 | 13% |
| Xc90 R-Design D5 P-Pulse Awd A | Diesel | 3,629 | 7% |
| Xc90 Ultimate T8 Rechrge Awd A | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 3,578 | 7% |
| Xc90 Ultra T8 Phev Awd Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 2,902 | 6% |
| Xc90 Momentum D5 P-Pulse Awd A | Diesel | 2,683 | 5% |
| Xc90 Active Awd D5 Auto | Diesel | 2,672 | 5% |
| Xc90 R-Design B5 Mhev Awd Auto | Hybrid Electric (Diesel) | 2,667 | 5% |
| Xc90 Inscription D5 Pp Awd A | Diesel | 2,348 | 5% |
| Xc90 Se Awd D5 Auto | Diesel | 2,331 | 5% |
| Xc90 Se Lux D5 Awd Auto | Diesel | 2,252 | 5% |
| Xc90 R-Design D5 Awd Auto | Diesel | 2,170 | 4% |
| Xc 90 D5 Se Awd Semi-Auto | Diesel | 1,993 | 4% |
| Xc90 Se D5 Auto | Diesel | 1,957 | 4% |
| Xc90 + T8 Recharge Awd Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,931 | 4% |
| Xc90 Ultra Mhev Awd Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,852 | 4% |
| Xc90 Se Lux Awd D5 Auto | Diesel | 1,834 | 4% |
| Xc90 Momentum D5 Awd Auto | Diesel | 1,726 | 3% |
| Xc90 Momentum B5 Mhev Awd Auto | Hybrid Electric (Diesel) | 1,723 | 3% |
| Xc90 + T8 Phev Awd Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,555 | 3% |
| Xc90 Core B5 Mhev Awd Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,402 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 89% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2019 | 88.6% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 88.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2017 | 87.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
14 earlier years
| 2016 | 84.8% | a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2015 | 84% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2014 | 78.3% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2013 | 77.6% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value |
| 2012 | 75.9% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2011 | 71.3% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2010 | 70.6% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2009 | 71.9% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2008 | 70.9% | 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 |
| 2007 | 69.1% | 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 |
| 2006 | 67.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2005 | 67.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 66.2% | 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 |
| 2003 | 66% | 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 |
Typical mileage
Half of all Xc90s tested had between 59,679 and 155,639 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 129,198 median miles, the Xc90 has 0.017 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Volvo models
| Volvo Xc60 | 82.7% |
| Volvo V40 | 79% |
| Volvo Xc40 | 91.2% |
| Volvo V70 | 72% |
| Volvo V50 | 67.4% |
Common questions
What is the Volvo Xc90 MOT pass rate?
The Volvo Xc90 has a 78% MOT pass rate based on 99,884 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volvo Xc90?
The most common MOT failure on the Volvo Xc90 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 3,737 failures. Other common issues include a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
How many Volvo Xc90s are on UK roads?
There are 90,170 Volvo Xc90s currently licensed on UK roads, with 6,202 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volvo Xc90 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volvo Xc90 is 129,198 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 59,679 and 155,639 miles.
Buying a used Xc90?
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 78% 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.