Volvo common problems and MOT failures

From 981,420 MOT tests in 2024, 16.5% of Volvo vehicles failed. Below are the most common reasons, ranked by how often they occur.

Top Volvo MOT failure reasons

#	Problem	Occurrences	% of failures
1	suspension pin, bush or joint worn	23,131	14.8%
2	tyre seriously damaged	19,839	12.7%
3	tyre tread depth outside legal limits	17,753	11.3%
4	brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm	17,672	11.3%
5	spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened	17,086	10.9%
6	tyre cords visible or damaged	14,329	9.1%
7	lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	13,335	8.5%
8	the aim of a headlamp is not within limits the requirements	13,183	8.4%
9	transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	10,494	6.7%
10	rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources	9,905	6.3%

What this means if you're buying a Volvo

The single most common MOT failure for Volvo is suspension pin, bush or joint worn, accounting for 15% of all failure items. Suspension repairs typically cost £150–£400 depending on the component.

These figures are from real MOT inspections — they show what testers actually find wrong with Volvo vehicles. If you're viewing a used Volvo, it's worth checking these areas specifically.

Volvo models by MOT pass rate

Lowest pass rates first — these models have the most testable issues.

Model	Tests	Pass rate
V50	53,418	72%
S40	31,725	73%
900 Series	9,572	73.9%
C30	41,711	75.2%
C70	14,391	75.5%
V70	62,491	77.4%
Xc70	27,649	80.7%
S60	28,705	80.8%
S80	12,064	81.3%
V40	140,680	81.9%
Xc90	99,884	82.1%
V60	43,709	84.1%
Xc60	154,426	85.8%
V90	17,139	88%
Xc40	97,492	92.6%

Buying a specific Volvo? Check the individual vehicle's MOT history for free on GOV.UK to see its actual test results, advisories, and mileage readings.

Check MOT history on GOV.UK