Volvo XC90 Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Volvo XC90 passes its MOT first time on 71.1% of tests, 3.8 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (67.3%). That puts it ahead of 67% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2017 XC90 does best (beats 85% of cars) and the 2004 worst (beats 59%).

Of its engines, the 2.0 Diesel does best (beats 83%) and the 2.4 Diesel worst (beats 64%).

Better than average on suspension, visibility, body & structure.

Watch these weak spots

Brakes1.4×as often as a typical car

Decelerometer (sp)35.4×as often as a typical car

Handbrake performance2.1×as often as a typical car

Sidelights1.5×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.

Volvo XC90Typical 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.

Beats 53%

Beats 59%

Beats 60%

Beats 63%

Beats 61%

Beats 67%

Beats 66%

Beats 64%

Beats 60%

Beats 77%

Beats 75%

Beats 67%

Beats 85%

Beats 81%

Beats 85%

Beats 84%

Beats 79%

Beats 72%

Beats 68%

Beats 68%

Beats 67%

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.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	2003–2014	314,829	62.0%	Beats 64%	B
2.0 Diesel	2015–2020	124,730	84.0%	Beats 83%	A
2.0 Hybrid	2016–2023	62,776	85.8%	Beats 80%	A
2.0 Petrol	2015–2020	18,729	84.9%	Beats 66%	B
2.0 Diesel hybrid	2020–2022	17,735	87.0%	Beats 72%	B
2.9 Petrol	2003–2005	7,834	53.9%	Beats 57%	C
2.5 Petrol	2005–2005	1,625	55.1%	Beats 59%	C
3.2 Petrol	2007–2007	1,336	58.7%	Beats 62%	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.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Brakes: 11.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.5% 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.

Every MOT area

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

Lights & electrics

13.1% vs 14.2%

Brakes

11.8% vs 8.5%

Tyres

6.6% vs 7.5%

Suspension

5.4% vs 11.0%

Visibility

3.2% vs 5.3%

Steering

2.4% vs 2.4%

Body & structure

2.0% vs 4.2%

Emissions & leaks

1.0% vs 3.8%

Seat belts & airbags

0.9% vs 1.4%

Wheels

0.4% vs 0.5%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Handbrake performance 2.1× typical
Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.
Sidelights 1.5× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Tyre damage & cracking
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
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.
Headlight bulbs & units
Check dipped and main beam on both sides.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Volvo XC90Typical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Sidelights	5.6%	3.7%	1.5×
Handbrake performance	4.2%	2.0%	2.1×
Tyre damage & cracking	3.8%	4.0%	1.0×
Headlight aim	3.4%	4.0%	0.9×
Decelerometer (sp)	2.8%	0.1%	35.4×
Tyre tread depth	2.7%	3.3%	0.8×
Headlight bulbs & units	2.2%	2.7%	0.8×
Brake pads	2.1%	2.4%	0.9×
Windscreen wipers	1.6%	2.4%	0.7×
Suspension arm bushes	1.5%	1.4%	1.1×

Specific defects found

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

Defect	per 1,000
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	46.8
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement	39.7
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	34.1
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	34.1
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value	30.9
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	26.7
A tyre seriously damaged	23.4
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm	20.0

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.

2023 Volvo XC901 engine87.5% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Hybrid	2,558	87.5%	Beats 67%	B

2022 Volvo XC902 engines87.6% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Hybrid	6,669	88.0%	Beats 72%	B
2.0 Diesel hybrid	4,356	86.9%	Beats 63%	B

2021 Volvo XC902 engines87.1% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Hybrid	10,680	87.1%	Beats 65%	B
2.0 Diesel hybrid	8,208	87.1%	Beats 73%	B

2020 Volvo XC904 engines86.8% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Hybrid	8,488	86.5%	Beats 67%	B
2.0 Diesel hybrid	5,171	86.9%	Beats 77%	B
2.0 Diesel	2,845	87.8%	Beats 84%	A
2.0 Petrol	2,120	86.5%	Beats 58%	C

2019 Volvo XC903 engines86.3% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	19,449	86.3%	Beats 82%	A
2.0 Petrol	8,596	85.9%	Beats 66%	B
2.0 Hybrid	6,621	86.8%	Beats 85%	A

2018 Volvo XC903 engines85.7% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	27,022	85.6%	Beats 83%	A
2.0 Hybrid	6,075	87.1%	Beats 93%	A
2.0 Petrol	3,438	84.6%	Beats 63%	B

2017 Volvo XC903 engines84.5% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	25,401	84.4%	Beats 85%	A
2.0 Hybrid	10,628	84.7%	Beats 87%	A
2.0 Petrol	1,517	83.9%	Beats 68%	B

2016 Volvo XC903 engines82.1% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	28,032	82.0%	Beats 80%	A
2.0 Hybrid	11,057	82.2%	Beats 83%	A
2.0 Petrol	1,679	82.0%	Beats 67%	B

2015 Volvo XC902 engines81.6% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	21,981	81.6%	Beats 85%	A
2.0 Petrol	1,379	81.7%	Beats 74%	B

2014 Volvo XC901 engine74.7% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	20,172	74.7%	Beats 67%	B

2013 Volvo XC901 engine73.6% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	21,092	73.6%	Beats 75%	B

2012 Volvo XC901 engine71.4% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	25,630	71.4%	Beats 77%	B

2011 Volvo XC901 engine64.1% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	37,360	64.1%	Beats 60%	B

2010 Volvo XC901 engine62.6% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	52,669	62.6%	Beats 64%	B

2009 Volvo XC901 engine61.5% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	29,544	61.5%	Beats 66%	B

2008 Volvo XC901 engine60.2% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	14,476	60.2%	Beats 67%	B

2007 Volvo XC902 engines56.9% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	23,735	56.8%	Beats 61%	B
3.2 Petrol	1,336	58.7%	Beats 62%	B

2006 Volvo XC901 engine56.4% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	24,866	56.4%	Beats 63%	B

2005 Volvo XC903 engines54.6% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	30,874	54.4%	Beats 60%	C
2.9 Petrol	2,377	57.0%	Beats 63%	B
2.5 Petrol	1,625	55.1%	Beats 59%	C

2004 Volvo XC902 engines53.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	25,284	53.1%	Beats 59%	C
2.9 Petrol	3,449	53.7%	Beats 57%	C

2003 Volvo XC902 engines51.0% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	9,127	51.1%	Beats 55%	C
2.9 Petrol	2,008	50.5%	Beats 48%	C

FAQ

What is the Volvo XC90 MOT pass rate?

71.1% of MOT tests on the Volvo XC90 were passed first time, based on 549,594 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2003–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 67.3% of the time.

Is the Volvo XC90 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 67% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Volvo XC90 year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2017 XC90 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 85% of cars on UK roads. The 2004 does worst: it beats 59%.

Which Volvo XC90 engine is best?

Across all years, the 2.0 Diesel does best: it beats 83% of cars on UK roads. The 2.4 Diesel does worst: it beats 64%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Volvo XC90?

The most common failure items are sidelights, handbrake performance, tyre damage & cracking. Compared with similar cars, decelerometer (sp) comes up 35.4× 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.

Volvo XC90 reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ