MOT fail rates
Volvo C30 MOT fail rate by age
How often the Volvo C30 fails its MOT at each age, compared with all cars of the same age, and what it fails on. From 93,795 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025.
MOT data updated
At 13 years, the most tested age
182 of 293 model groups with enough tests fail less often at 13 years.
What stands out
- At 9 years the Volvo C30 fails 30.4% of MOTs (1,005 tests), 3.2 points above the 27.1% for all cars that age. At 18 years it fails 43.2% (2,068 tests), about the same as the 43.3% average.
- The gap is widest at 11 years: 3.4 points above all cars.
- Its most common structural or mechanical fail item at 13 years: Suspension arm bush worn, at 6.8 per 100 MOTs.
MOT fail rate by age
Solid line: this model. Dashed line: all cars at the same age.
| Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 years | 30.4% | 1,005 | 27.1% | +3.2 pts | 67,658 miles |
| 10 years | 32.6% | 4,029 | 30.3% | +2.3 pts | 74,081 miles |
| 11 years | 36.6% | 7,371 | 33.3% | +3.4 pts | 84,090 miles |
| 12 years | 38.0% | 12,877 | 36.0% | +2.0 pts | 91,962 miles |
| 13 years | 40.1% | 17,552 | 38.3% | +1.9 pts | 97,485 miles |
| 14 years | 42.4% | 17,437 | 40.3% | +2.1 pts | 103,145 miles |
| 15 years | 42.5% | 16,062 | 41.6% | +0.9 pts | 105,781 miles |
| 16 years | 43.4% | 10,397 | 42.6% | +0.8 pts | 107,162 miles |
| 17 years | 44.6% | 4,997 | 43.1% | +1.5 pts | 109,972 miles |
| 18 years | 43.2% | 2,068 | 43.3% | −0.1 pts | 107,058 miles |
Most common fail items at 13 years
Split into structural or mechanical items and wear items. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
Structural and mechanical
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs |
|---|---|
| Suspension arm bush worn Major | 6.8 |
| Coil spring broken Major | 5 |
| Driveshaft CV boot split Major | 4.2 |
Out of 17,552 MOTs. A test with two faults counts twice.
Wear and upkeep
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs |
|---|---|
| Side/position light not working Major | 8.2 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Dangerous | 4.4 |
| Tyre with cords exposed Dangerous | 3.6 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Major | 3.6 |
| Individual direction indicators: incorrect colour Major | 3.4 |
| Dipped headlight not working Major | 2.5 |
| Brake pads under 1.5 mm Dangerous | 2.5 |
Out of 17,552 MOTs. A test with two faults counts twice.
Other models at 13 years
| Model | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo V50 | 42.8% | 17,806 | 38.3% |
| Volvo XC60 | 30.1% | 16,930 | 38.3% |
| Volvo XC90 | 36.3% | 16,890 | 38.3% |
MOT fail rate by first-use year
Each year has its own page: the fail rate for cars first used that year at each MOT from 2022 to 2025 with at least 1,000 tests, the most common faults at that age, and the car tax and ULEZ rules for that year.
First-use year data updated .
| First used | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 18 years in 2025 | 43.5% | 1,949 | 43.3% |
| 2008 | 17 years in 2025 | 45.6% | 2,648 | 43.1% |
| 2009 | 16 years in 2025 | 42.6% | 4,664 | 42.6% |
| 2010 | 15 years in 2025 | 41.1% | 4,613 | 41.6% |
| 2011 | 14 years in 2025 | 39.8% | 2,998 | 40.3% |
| 2012 | 13 years in 2025 | 38.1% | 2,812 | 38.3% |
| 2013 | 10 years in 2023 | 31.6% | 1,004 | 30.3% |
More on the Volvo C30
Looking at one Volvo C30?
These are figures for the model, not for one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at a single car: its MOT tests, defects, advisories and mileage readings.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 22 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources