2008 Volvo C30 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 22,616 MOT tests, the 2008 Volvo C30 recorded a 71.7% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 2008 C30 comes out 2.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.6%) and suspension (14.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and pins and bushes — coil spring alone was recorded 1,367 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.9% in the 0-30k band and 31.6% in the 150k+ band, a 18.7-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 27.9% of the time against 28.8% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 3,534 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.5% | 3,284 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.8% | 1,758 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.3% | 1,662 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 1,227 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 1,019 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,367 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,256 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,121 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,054 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,006 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 964 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 30.9% | 6,977 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.9% | 6,086 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.8% | 5,387 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.5% | 4,416 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.9% | 2,922 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.4% | 2,121 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 225 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,674 | 18.6% |
| 60-90k | 4,911 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 7,779 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 5,374 | 31.5% |
| 150k+ | 2,647 | 31.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,903 | 27.9% |
| Diesel | 9,713 | 28.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,237 | 27.3% |
| 2022 | 5,023 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 4,726 | 29.0% |
| 2024 | 4,101 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 3,529 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 C30
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.5% 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.
- Tyres (7.8% 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 2008 Volvo C30s pass their MOT?
71.7% of the 22,616 2008 Volvo C30 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Volvo C30?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by suspension (14.5%).
Does the 2008 C30 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 31.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,616 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.