2008 · 16 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2008 Volvo XC90 MOT pass rate and common faults

1,544 MOT tests in 2024. 60.6% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

107Above average
Passed first time60.6%
Failed or needed repairs39.4%
Typical mileage at test142,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,544 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working9.5%
  2. Decelerometer (sp): efficiency below requirements4.7%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.8%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.5%
    90 marked dangerous
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.3%
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value3.0%
    51 marked dangerous
  7. Decelerometer (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value2.5%
    44 marked dangerous
  8. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.3%
  9. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.3%
    49 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics27.9%
  2. Brakes26.1%
  3. Suspension13.9%
  4. Tyres8.2%
  5. Body & chassis4.5%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.3%
  7. Steering3.6%
  8. Emissions & leaks2.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn28.0%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm22.7%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened14.9%
  4. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened13.1%
  5. Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s)10.6%

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: 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 2008 Volvo XC90?

In 2024, 60.6% of 2008 Volvo XC90 cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,544 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 Volvo XC90?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; decelerometer (sp): efficiency below requirements; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2008 Volvo XC90 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 107, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).