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Volvo V90 reliability

B · Good

MOT pass rates and common problems from 78,313 MOT tests of cars first registered 2016–2022.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
85.2%pass first time
+3.7 ptsvs typical car
Beats 79%of cars
78,313MOT tests

Verdict

The Volvo V90 passes its MOT first time on 85.2% of tests, 3.7 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (81.5%). That puts it ahead of 79% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2018 V90 does best (beats 83% of cars) and the 2019 worst (beats 67%).

Better than average on lights & electrics, suspension, visibility.

Watch these weak spots

Body & structure1.9×as often as a typical car
Drive shaft (CV) joints3.2×as often as a typical car
Brake pads1.4×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.

70%75%80%85%90%345678988%87%85%84%83%81%78%
Volvo V90Typical 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.

2016
Beats 77%
2017
Beats 88%
2018
Beats 83%
2019
Beats 67%
2020
Beats 61%
2021
Beats 89%
2022
Beats 88%

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
2.0 Diesel2016–202058,36984.7%Beats 82%A
2.0 Petrol2018–202015,33785.9%Beats 64%B
2.0 Hybrid2021–20223,03989.1%Beats 86%A
2.0 Diesel hybrid2021–20211,56889.3%Beats 93%A

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: 0.5% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.4% 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: 1.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.7% 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: 2.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 5.1% 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: 6.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.0% 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: 3.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 3.6% 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: 2.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 5.1% 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+3.1 ptsTyres: 6.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.0% 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−0.3 ptsBrakes: 3.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 3.6% 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+0.1 ptsSuspension: 1.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.7% 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+1.2 ptsExhaust: 0.5% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.4% 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+1.0 ptsSuspension: 1.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.7% 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: 3.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 3.6% 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: 6.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.0% 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: 2.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 5.1% 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: 0.5% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.4% 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: 2.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 5.1% 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+3.1 ptsTyres: 6.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.0% 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−0.3 ptsBrakes: 3.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 3.6% 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+0.1 ptsSuspension: 1.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.7% 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+1.2 ptsExhaust: 0.5% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.4% 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+1.0 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Tyres: 6.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.0% 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).

Tyres
6.3% vs 6.0%
Brakes
3.6% vs 3.6%
Lights & electrics
2.1% vs 5.1%
Body & structure
1.6% vs 0.9%
Suspension
1.5% vs 2.7%
Visibility
1.3% vs 3.6%
Steering
0.5% vs 0.6%
Emissions & leaks
0.5% vs 1.4%
Wheels
0.2% vs 0.3%
Seat belts & airbags
0.1% vs 0.4%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Brake pads 1.4× typical
    Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.
  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Tyre tread depth
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
  • Windscreen wipers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Coil springs
    Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

60%70%80%90%100%10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k93%86%85%83%80%81%
Volvo V90Typical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking4.8%3.6%1.3×
Brake pads3.1%2.2%1.4×
Tyre tread depth1.6%2.3%0.7×
Drive shaft (CV) joints1.4%0.4%3.2×
Windscreen wipers0.9%2.0%0.4×
Headlight aim0.8%1.9%0.4×
Coil springs0.8%0.8%1.0×
Sidelights0.7%0.6%1.2×
Track rod ends0.5%0.5%1.0×
Windscreen washers0.3%1.4%0.2×

Specific defects found

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

Defectper 1,000
A tyre seriously damaged30.9
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm29.9
A tyre cords visible or damaged17.0
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements15.5
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc14.1
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen8.6
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements8.0
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened7.8
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.

2022 Volvo V901 engine89.5% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Hybrid1,04689.5%Beats 88%A
2021 Volvo V902 engines89.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Hybrid1,99389.0%Beats 85%A
2.0 Diesel hybrid1,56889.3%Beats 93%A
2020 Volvo V902 engines85.7% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Petrol4,38985.8%Beats 52%C
2.0 Diesel3,83785.6%Beats 67%B
2019 Volvo V902 engines84.8% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel12,34684.1%Beats 68%B
2.0 Petrol8,19485.7%Beats 64%B
2018 Volvo V902 engines85.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel19,58585.2%Beats 84%A
2.0 Petrol2,75486.5%Beats 79%B
2017 Volvo V901 engine84.8% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel19,29184.8%Beats 88%A
2016 Volvo V901 engine81.9% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel3,31081.9%Beats 77%B

FAQ

What is the Volvo V90 MOT pass rate?

85.2% of MOT tests on the Volvo V90 were passed first time, based on 78,313 tests between 2019 and 2026 of cars first registered 2016–2022. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 81.5% of the time.

Is the Volvo V90 reliable?

On MOT results it rates B (good): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 79% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Volvo V90 year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2018 V90 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 83% of cars on UK roads. The 2019 does worst: it beats 67%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Volvo V90?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, brake pads, tyre tread depth. Compared with similar cars, drive shaft (CV) joints comes up 3.2× 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.