MOT fail rates by first-use year
2008 Volvo V50 MOT fail rate and common faults
How Volvo V50 cars first used in 2008 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 22,324 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 17 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 17 years old, Volvo V50 cars first used in 2008 failed 47.5% of MOTs (4,471 tests), 4.4 points above the 43.1% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 14 to 17 years old, the fail rate moved from 44.8% to 47.5%.
- Volvo V50 cars first used a year earlier, in 2007, failed 45.4% at the same age of 17 years (2,826 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Volvo V50 at 17 years, is driveshaft CV boot split, at 7.5 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 3.2).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 14 years | 44.8% | 6,611 | 40.3% | +4.6 pts |
| 2023 | 15 years | 47.1% | 6,004 | 41.6% | +5.5 pts |
| 2024 | 16 years | 47.5% | 5,238 | 42.6% | +4.9 pts |
| 2025 | 17 years | 47.5% | 4,471 | 43.1% | +4.4 pts |
Most common faults at 17 years
These figures cover all Volvo V50 MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=13,575). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Driveshaft CV boot split | 7.5 | 3.2 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 6.5 | 5.8 |
| Coil spring broken | 6.1 | 3.5 |
| Tyre with cords exposed Wear | 4.1 | 1.8 |
| Handbrake too weak | 3.8 | 2.7 |
| Suspension arm bush worn | 3.8 | 2.2 |
| Shock absorber leaking | 3.3 | 1.6 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 3.3 | 3.0 |
| Suspension ball joint worn | 3.2 | 2.4 |
| Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear | 2.9 | 1.9 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=13,575). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 24.8 | 17.9 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 13.3 | 11.3 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 11.5 | 8.7 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 10.1 | 7.5 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 9.5 | 6.6 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 9.2 | 11.7 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear | 9.0 | 5.9 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 7.5 | 9.6 |
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated | 7.1 | 3.9 |
| Shock absorber misting oil | 5.5 | 4.1 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=13,575). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 17 years
These figures cover all Volvo V50 MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=13,575). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 67.6% | 47.2% | 9,170 | 43.2% | 148,506 miles |
| Petrol | 32.4% | 45.3% | 4,403 | 43.2% | 114,480 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 17 years
These figures cover all Volvo V50 MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=13,575). At 17 years, Volvo V50 cars at over 150,000 miles failed more often (51.1%, n=5,161) than those at 60,000 to 90,000 miles (37.1%, n=1,348). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 37.1% | 1,348 | 41.7% |
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 45.2% | 2,801 | 46.2% |
| 120,000 to 150,000 miles | 48.1% | 3,751 | 47.1% |
| Over 150,000 miles | 51.1% | 5,161 | 46.5% |
Car tax rules for a 2008 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2008 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Volvo V50
Other Volvo models first used in 2008
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo V70 (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 34.4% | 3,124 | 43.1% |
| Volvo C30 (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 45.6% | 2,648 | 43.1% |
| Volvo S40 (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 41.9% | 2,458 | 43.1% |
| Volvo XC90 (2008) | 17 years in 2025 | 41.2% | 1,396 | 43.1% |
| Volvo XC70 (2008) | 15 years in 2023 | 31.6% | 1,034 | 41.6% |
More on the Volvo V50
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2008 Volvo V50 cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
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 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.