2004 · 20 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2004 Volvo XC90 MOT pass rate and common faults

2,017 MOT tests in 2024. 54.4% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

96Below average
Passed first time54.4%
Failed or needed repairs45.6%
Typical mileage at test161,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 2,017 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working7.5%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.5%
  3. Rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value5.4%
    128 marked dangerous
  4. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect5.3%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn5.0%
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements4.5%
  7. Anti-lock braking system: warning lamp indicates an ABS fault4.0%
  8. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.7%
  9. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.3%
    119 marked dangerous
  10. Decelerometer (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value3.2%
    77 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics43.3%
  2. Brakes32.8%
  3. Suspension25.8%
  4. Steering7.6%
  5. Tyres7.3%
  6. Body & chassis6.7%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.1%
  8. Emissions & leaks2.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn22.5%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.7%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened16.7%
  4. Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s)15.9%
  5. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine15.0%

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 2004 Volvo XC90?

In 2024, 54.4% of 2004 Volvo XC90 cars passed their MOT first time, across 2,017 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Volvo XC90?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2004 Volvo XC90 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 96, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).