2016 · 8 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2016 Volvo S90 MOT pass rate and common faults

280 MOT tests in 2024. 80.7% passed first time, compared with 76.6% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time80.7%
Failed or needed repairs19.3%
Typical mileage at test72,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 280 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt5.7%
  2. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.9%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.6%
    12 marked dangerous
  4. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.1%
    10 marked dangerous
  5. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.4%
  6. Tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure1.4%
    4 marked dangerous
  7. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.1%
  8. Road Wheels - condition: fractured0.7%
    2 marked dangerous
  9. Headlamp aim: too low0.7%
  10. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn0.7%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Body & chassis6.4%
  2. Tyres6.4%
  3. Brakes5.7%
  4. Steering3.9%
  5. Suspension3.2%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)1.4%
  7. Wheels1.1%
  8. Lights & electrics1.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.6%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick12.1%
  3. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play7.1%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure6.1%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.3%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All S90 years2017 S90 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2016 Volvo S90?

In 2024, 80.7% of 2016 Volvo S90 cars passed their MOT first time, across 280 tests. The average for all 8-year-old cars was 76.6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2016 Volvo S90?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick. The biggest problem area was body & chassis.

Is the 2016 Volvo S90 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).