Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, 3 to 15 years old

Volvo models ranked by MOT fails

Q: Which Volvo models have the fewest MOT fails?

12,985 MOT tests at 9 to 15 years put the Volvo S80 first: 30% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage; ranks 1 to 2 overlap, so it is level with the Volvo S90. Next is the Volvo S90: 26% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Q: Which Volvo models fail their MOT most often?

382,617 MOT tests at 3 to 13 years put the Volvo V40 last of the 15 in this list: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.09).

Q: How many Volvo models are compared?

15 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 1,900,856 MOT tests in all; 5 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 0 at least 20% more often.

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 1,900,856 MOT tests · Updated 7 Oct 2026

Volvo S80 ranks first among Volvo models (95% rank range 1–2, level with the Volvo S90): 30% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (12,985 MOT tests) ^[1].

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15 models ranked, 5 with at least 20% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (95% interval, at 3 or more ages), from 1,900,856 MOT tests ^[1]
Volvo S90 is next: 26% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (28,720 MOT tests)
Volvo V40 is last of the 15: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.09) (382,617 MOT tests)

Which year and engine a car has, and how it was kept, decide where one car sits in these ranges. Check the reg first.

Fail rates are for the model across its MOT tests, never a forecast for one car.

Fewest MOT fails: Volvo S80, 30% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage (statistically close to #2)
#2 for fewest MOT fails: Volvo S90, 26% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
#3 for fewest MOT fails: Volvo XC70, 26% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
#4 for fewest MOT fails: Volvo V70, 24% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage

This is DVSA MOT data, not road tests, owner surveys or breakdown records, and nobody paid to be included. Each model is compared with all cars tested at the same age, in the same mileage band and in its own mix of test years, so a low-mileage model does not look better for its low mileage. "Most reliable" in our titles is measured as MOT failure rate at the same age and mileage, not breakdowns.

Volvo models: the ranking

Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, from 15 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each of 3 or more ages between 3 to 15 years (pooled). The range under each rank is where the model could sit once sampling error is allowed for. Each adjusted rate reads against its own all-car rate, because models are tested at different ages.

Top 15 of 15. Adjusted rate = the model's rate at typical mileage for its own ages, against all cars at those ages; raw = its own ages and mileage.
#95% range	Model	Against cars the same age and mileage	Adjusted rateits own ages, typical mileage	Rawits own ages and mileage	MOT tests	Next step
11–2	Volvo S80executive car	30% fewer fails (28–32% fewer)	25.4%all cars: 36.2%	26.9%	12,985at 9 to 15 years	Volvo S80 common problems
21–4	Volvo S90 (first used from 2016)executive car	26% fewer fails (24–29% fewer)	11.1%all cars: 15.0%	12.3%	28,720at 3 to 8 years	Volvo S90 MOT fail rate · Volvo S90 common problems
32–3	Volvo XC70estate car	26% fewer fails (25–27% fewer)	24.3%all cars: 32.9%	26.2%	47,543at 7 to 15 years	Volvo XC70 MOT fail rate · Volvo XC70 common problems
43–5	Volvo V70estate car	24% fewer fails (23–25% fewer)	26.7%all cars: 35.1%	28.7%	72,900at 7 to 15 years	Volvo V70 MOT fail rate · Volvo V70 common problems
54–5	Volvo XC40family SUV	23% fewer fails (22–24% fewer)	9.7%all cars: 12.5%	9.9%	228,281at 3 to 7 years	Volvo XC40 MOT fail rate · Volvo XC40 common problems
66–7	Volvo XC60family SUV	close to averageratio 0.81 (0.80–0.81)	17.9%all cars: 22.1%	19.4%	428,483at 3 to 15 years	Volvo XC60 MOT fail rate · Volvo XC60 common problems
76–7	Volvo S60executive car	close to averageratio 0.82 (0.81–0.83)	21.5%all cars: 26.3%	23.1%	56,542at 3 to 15 years	Volvo S60 MOT fail rate · Volvo S60 common problems
88–9	Volvo V60estate car	close to averageratio 0.87 (0.86–0.88)	19.9%all cars: 22.8%	21.8%	151,725at 3 to 14 years	Volvo V60 MOT fail rate · Volvo V60 common problems
98–10	Volvo XC90large SUV	close to averageratio 0.88 (0.87–0.88)	20.9%all cars: 23.9%	23.0%	230,750at 3 to 15 years	Volvo XC90 MOT fail rate · Volvo XC90 common problems
109–10	Volvo V90 (first used from 2016)estate car	close to averageratio 0.90 (0.88–0.91)	13.3%all cars: 14.8%	14.8%	57,328at 3 to 8 years	Volvo V90 MOT fail rate · Volvo V90 common problems
1111–13	Volvo C30family hatchback	close to averageratio 1.03 (1.02–1.03)	39.4%all cars: 38.4%	40.2%	74,861at 10 to 15 years	Volvo C30 MOT fail rate · Volvo C30 common problems
1211–13	Volvo S40family hatchback	close to averageratio 1.03 (1.02–1.04)	40.4%all cars: 39.1%	41.6%	36,974at 10 to 15 years	Volvo S40 MOT fail rate · Volvo S40 common problems
1311–14	Volvo C70sports car	close to averageratio 1.04 (1.01–1.06)	41.5%all cars: 40.0%	41.9%	11,308at 12 to 15 years	Volvo C70 common problems
1413–14	Volvo V50estate car	close to averageratio 1.06 (1.05–1.07)	40.9%all cars: 38.7%	43.6%	79,839at 10 to 15 years	Volvo V50 MOT fail rate · Volvo V50 common problems
15certain	Volvo V40 (first used from 2012)family hatchback	close to averageratio 1.09 (1.08–1.10)	24.6%all cars: 22.6%	25.6%	382,617at 3 to 13 years	Volvo V40 MOT fail rate · Volvo V40 common problems

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The top 10 in this list, model by model

1 · 30% fewer MOT fails

Volvo S80

Why it ranks here: 30% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.70, 95% CI 0.68–0.72), from 12,985 MOT tests at 9 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 25.4% (24.6%–26.1%), against 36.2% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 26.9%. Rank range 1–2.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were 76% diesel, 24% petrol.

2 · 26% fewer MOT fails

Volvo S90 (first used from 2016)

Why it ranks here: 26% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.74, 95% CI 0.71–0.76), from 28,720 MOT tests at 3 to 8 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 11.1% (10.7%–11.4%), against 15.0% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 12.3%. Rank range 1–4.

Check before you buy: fails on brakes 1.3–1.4× as often as cars the same age (1,070 fails in 29,076 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were 76% diesel, 18% petrol; this row covers cars first used from 2016.

3 · 26% fewer MOT fails

Volvo XC70

Why it ranks here: 26% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.74, 95% CI 0.73–0.75), from 47,543 MOT tests at 7 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 24.3% (23.9%–24.6%), against 32.9% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 26.2%. Rank range 2–3.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 1.5–1.6× as often as cars the same age (1,686 fails in 49,005 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an estate car; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

4 · 24% fewer MOT fails

Volvo V70

Why it ranks here: 24% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.76, 95% CI 0.75–0.77), from 72,900 MOT tests at 7 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 26.7% (26.4%–27.0%), against 35.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 28.7%. Rank range 3–5.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 1.3–1.4× as often as cars the same age (2,483 fails in 73,721 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an estate car; the ones tested were 70% diesel, 30% petrol.

5 · 23% fewer MOT fails

Volvo XC40

Why it ranks here: 23% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.77, 95% CI 0.76–0.78), from 228,281 MOT tests at 3 to 7 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 9.7% (9.6%–9.8%), against 12.5% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 9.9%. Rank range 4–5.

Check before you buy: fails on brakes 1.56–1.64× as often as cars the same age (7,359 fails in 229,238 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family SUV; the ones tested were 52% petrol, 27% hybrid.

6 · About average

Volvo XC60

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.81, 95% CI 0.80–0.81), from 428,483 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 17.9% (17.8%–18.0%), against 22.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 19.4%. Rank range 6–7.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 1.3–1.4× as often as cars the same age (6,526 fails in 430,685 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family SUV; the ones tested were 78% diesel, 12% hybrid.

7 · About average

Volvo S60

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.82, 95% CI 0.81–0.83), from 56,542 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 21.5% (21.2%–21.9%), against 26.3% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 23.1%. Rank range 6–7.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 1.3–1.4× as often as cars the same age (1,195 fails in 54,449 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were 67% diesel, 31% petrol.

8 · About average

Volvo V60

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.87, 95% CI 0.86–0.88), from 151,725 MOT tests at 3 to 14 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 19.9% (19.7%–20.0%), against 22.8% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 21.8%. Rank range 8–9.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 1.4–1.5× as often as cars the same age (2,644 fails in 152,693 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on tyres 1.30–1.34× as often as cars the same age (12,343 fails in 152,693 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an estate car; the ones tested were 79% diesel, 12% petrol.

9 · About average

Volvo XC90

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.88, 95% CI 0.87–0.88), from 230,750 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 20.9% (20.8%–21.1%), against 23.9% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 23.0%. Rank range 8–10.

Check before you buy: fails on brakes 1.6–1.7× as often as cars the same age (19,045 fails in 232,487 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on number plates and VIN 1.3–1.5× as often as cars the same age (917 fails in 232,487 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on steering 1.2–1.3× as often as cars the same age (3,857 fails in 232,487 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a large SUV; the ones tested were 74% diesel, 19% hybrid.

10 · About average

Volvo V90 (first used from 2016)

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.90, 95% CI 0.88–0.91), from 57,328 MOT tests at 3 to 8 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 13.3% (13.0%–13.5%), against 14.8% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 14.8%. Rank range 9–10.

Check before you buy: fails on body and structure 2.6–3.0× as often as cars the same age (856 fails in 57,957 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on brakes 1.3–1.5× as often as cars the same age (2,129 fails in 57,957 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an estate car; the ones tested were 69% diesel, 21% petrol; this row covers cars first used from 2016.

How to choose Volvo models with this list

Compare like with like: against cars the same age and mileage, this list runs from 30% fewer (Volvo S80) to about average (Volvo V40).
5 of the 15 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 0 at least 20% more often; the other 10 are within that band, or too uncertain to say.
Look at what a model fails on: 9 of the 10 models above have a part that fails more often than on cars the same age.
Then check the one car: its own MOT history and advisories say more about it than its model's average.

Found one on the list? Check that car

A ranking compares models at the same age and mileage; it cannot say how one car was kept. A registration shows that car's own DVSA record: its MOT tests, the mileage at each test and the recall flag.

Free car check by registration The MOT record, the mileage readings and the recall flag in one overview, with how the model does at its MOT.
Check any car's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
Mileage check by registration The odometer reading from each MOT, with drops, jumps and long gaps flagged.

How we rank

1,900,856 MOT tests from 2022–2025 of cars 3 to 15 years old. For each model and age, the tests are split into 6 mileage bands (<30k, 30-60k, 60-90k, 90-120k, 120-150k, 150k+); the expected fails are what all cars of that age would fail in the same bands, corrected to the model's own mix of test years. The ratio of the model's fails to the expected fails sets its place. The adjusted rate is that ratio times the all-car rate at the model's own ages, so it reads against that rate: a model tested only at 3 to 5 years is compared with young cars, not with this list's average.

The 95% intervals cover sampling error only (Wilson intervals). A model is called fewer or more only when its interval is at least 20% from the all-car rate, overall and at 3 or more ages ("close to average" when the interval excludes the all-car rate by less); awards use the same rule. Test years: Each model's expected fails therefore use its own mix of test years 2022–2025, age by age; the mileage bands themselves pool the four years, which can leave a small bias in favour of models first sold late in the window. Generations of a model are pooled unless the data splits them; each row says which years it covers. How we compare

Limitation: MOT tests record roadworthiness defects on the test day. They do not record breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs, and they cannot separate design from upkeep: a model whose owners service it before every MOT looks better here. Only cars still on the road are tested.

More lists

Questions people ask

Which Volvo models have the fewest MOT fails?

12,985 MOT tests at 9 to 15 years put the Volvo S80 first: 30% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage; ranks 1 to 2 overlap, so it is level with the Volvo S90. Next is the Volvo S90: 26% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Which Volvo models fail their MOT most often?

382,617 MOT tests at 3 to 13 years put the Volvo V40 last of the 15 in this list: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.09).

How many Volvo models are compared?

15 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 1,900,856 MOT tests in all; 5 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 0 at least 20% more often.

Sources

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 1,900,856 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.