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Volvo C30 reliability

C · Average

MOT pass rates and common problems from 212,108 MOT tests of cars first registered 2007–2013.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
60.7%pass first time
−0.9 ptsvs typical car
Beats 46%of cars
212,108MOT tests

Verdict

The Volvo C30 passes its MOT first time on 60.7% of tests, 0.9 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (61.6%). That puts it ahead of 46% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2007 C30 does best (beats 54% of cars) and the 2011 worst (beats 35%).

Of its engines, the 2.0 Petrol does best (beats 54%) and the 1.6 Petrol worst (beats 42%).

Better than average on emissions & leaks, seat belts & airbags.

Watch these weak spots

Suspension arm bushes2.5×as often as a typical car
Tyre damage & cracking1.4×as often as a typical car
Number plate lights1.8×as often as a typical car
Drive shaft (CV) joints1.8×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

50%60%70%80%90%567891011121314151617181975%68%64%61%60%57%56%55%
Volvo C30Typical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2007
Beats 54%
2008
Beats 45%
2009
Beats 49%
2010
Beats 50%
2011
Beats 35%
2012
Beats 40%
2013
Beats 42%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel2007–201380,55160.0%Beats 43%C
1.6 Petrol2007–201042,17858.4%Beats 42%C
2.0 Diesel2007–201240,45559.9%Beats 48%C
2.0 Petrol2007–201327,44468.0%Beats 54%C
1.8 Petrol2007–20098,76157.2%Beats 41%C
2.4 Diesel2007–20096,99359.5%Beats 59%C
2.5 Petrol2007–20103,55265.5%Beats 72%B
2.4 Petrol2007–20072,17464.1%Beats 63%B

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 2.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 14.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 14.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 18.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 17.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 9.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 7.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 9.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 18.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 17.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights−1.3 ptsTyres: 9.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−1.7 ptsBrakes: 7.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 9.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+1.7 ptsSuspension: 14.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 14.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−0.3 ptsExhaust: 2.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+1.4 ptsSuspension: 14.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 14.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 7.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 9.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 9.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 18.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 17.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 2.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 18.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 17.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights−1.3 ptsTyres: 9.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−1.7 ptsBrakes: 7.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 9.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+1.7 ptsSuspension: 14.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 14.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−0.3 ptsExhaust: 2.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+1.4 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Tyres: 9.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics
18.7% vs 17.3%
Suspension
14.5% vs 14.2%
Tyres
9.3% vs 7.5%
Brakes
7.5% vs 9.2%
Body & structure
5.5% vs 4.9%
Visibility
5.1% vs 5.9%
Emissions & leaks
2.9% vs 4.3%
Steering
2.5% vs 2.6%
Seat belts & airbags
0.9% vs 1.3%
Wheels
0.5% vs 0.5%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Suspension arm bushes 2.5× typical
    Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
  • Tyre damage & cracking 1.4× typical
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Number plate lights 1.8× typical
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Coil springs
    Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Headlight bulbs & units
    Check dipped and main beam on both sides.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

50%60%70%80%90%10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k150k85%76%68%62%58%55%52%53%
Volvo C30Typical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Sidelights6.3%4.9%1.3×
Tyre damage & cracking5.9%4.1%1.4×
Coil springs4.4%4.0%1.1×
Suspension arm bushes4.3%1.7%2.5×
Headlight aim3.9%4.3%0.9×
Number plate lights3.8%2.2%1.8×
Headlight bulbs & units3.5%3.1%1.1×
Drive shaft (CV) joints3.4%2.0%1.8×
Tyre tread depth3.4%3.3%1.0×
Windscreen washers2.6%2.9%0.9×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn67.1
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning54.0
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened43.8
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements38.8
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc35.0
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements33.9
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps33.3
A tyre cords visible or damaged30.8
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2013 Volvo C302 engines69.5% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel4,59365.7%Beats 29%D
2.0 Petrol3,83774.0%Beats 60%C
2012 Volvo C303 engines66.3% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Petrol11,41970.8%Beats 55%C
1.6 Diesel10,47761.2%Beats 25%D
2.0 Diesel3,54266.9%Beats 45%C
2011 Volvo C303 engines61.2% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel13,72958.4%Beats 27%D
2.0 Diesel8,44062.7%Beats 44%C
2.0 Petrol5,33166.3%Beats 46%C
2010 Volvo C305 engines61.2% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel24,80460.4%Beats 50%C
1.6 Petrol10,39860.3%Beats 37%D
2.0 Diesel9,01362.5%Beats 57%C
2.0 Petrol1,73865.7%Beats 56%C
2.5 Petrol1,03672.0%Beats 83%A
2009 Volvo C306 engines59.6% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel19,63760.3%Beats 55%C
1.6 Petrol15,69359.2%Beats 42%C
2.0 Diesel8,16758.1%Beats 46%C
1.8 Petrol2,36359.5%Beats 41%C
2.4 Diesel2,10160.4%Beats 57%C
2.0 Petrol1,50062.5%Beats 57%C
2008 Volvo C307 engines56.2% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Petrol11,28555.4%Beats 40%D
2.0 Diesel6,40255.6%Beats 47%C
1.6 Diesel4,91554.6%Beats 44%C
1.8 Petrol3,27456.5%Beats 41%C
2.4 Diesel2,59358.5%Beats 57%C
2.0 Petrol1,44358.1%Beats 50%C
2.5 Petrol1,05765.7%Beats 75%B
2007 Volvo C308 engines58.0% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel4,89154.2%Beats 48%C
1.6 Petrol4,80258.7%Beats 54%C
1.8 Petrol3,12456.0%Beats 41%C
1.6 Diesel2,39657.1%Beats 54%C
2.4 Diesel2,29959.9%Beats 61%B
2.0 Petrol2,17659.0%Beats 56%C
2.4 Petrol2,17464.1%Beats 63%B
2.5 Petrol1,45960.7%Beats 63%B

FAQ

What is the Volvo C30 MOT pass rate?

60.7% of MOT tests on the Volvo C30 were passed first time, based on 212,108 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2007–2013. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 61.6% of the time.

Is the Volvo C30 reliable?

On MOT results it rates C (average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 46% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Volvo C30 year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2007 C30 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 54% of cars on UK roads. The 2011 does worst: it beats 35%.

Which Volvo C30 engine is best?

Across all years, the 2.0 Petrol does best: it beats 54% of cars on UK roads. The 1.6 Petrol does worst: it beats 42%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Volvo C30?

The most common failure items are sidelights, tyre damage & cracking, coil springs. Compared with similar cars, suspension arm bushes comes up 2.5× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.