2006 Volvo C30 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 849 MOT tests, the 2006 Volvo C30 recorded a 72.6% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.3%) and lighting & signalling (12.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plate lamp(s), joints and coil spring — registration plate lamp(s) alone was recorded 48 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 27.8% versus 17.9%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.3% | 113 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 104 |
| 3 | Tyres | 8.5% | 72 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 56 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.0% | 51 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 44 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 48 |
| 2 | Joints | 46 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 40 |
| 4 | Washers | 32 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 27 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 27 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.3% | 274 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.0% | 255 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.6% | 192 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.2% | 180 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 110 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.0% | 68 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 56 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 151 | 26.5% |
| 90-120k | 329 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 213 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 97 | 27.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 550 | 27.3% |
| Diesel | 299 | 27.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 201 | 23.9% |
| 2022 | 193 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 174 | 31.6% |
| 2024 | 155 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 126 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2006 C30
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (8.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2006 Volvo C30s pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 849 2006 Volvo C30 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Volvo C30?
Suspension, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.3%).
Does the 2006 C30 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.9% in the 30-60k band to 27.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 849 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.