2009 · 15 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2009 Volvo V50 MOT pass rate and common faults

4,407 MOT tests in 2024. 55.7% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

95Below average
Passed first time55.7%
Failed or needed repairs44.3%
Typical mileage at test126,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 4,407 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working8.6%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.4%
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed4.3%
    266 marked dangerous
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.3%
  5. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.5%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.0%
    203 marked dangerous
  7. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.9%
  8. Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.7%
  9. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.5%
    123 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics25.8%
  2. Suspension23.8%
  3. Brakes15.1%
  4. Tyres12.2%
  5. Body & chassis7.6%
  6. Emissions & leaks7.1%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.0%
  8. Steering5.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm24.6%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.3%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.4%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.9%
  5. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine8.5%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2009 Volvo V50?

In 2024, 55.7% of 2009 Volvo V50 cars passed their MOT first time, across 4,407 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 Volvo V50?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; coil spring: fractured or broken; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2009 Volvo V50 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 95, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).