2011 Volvo C30 — MOT failures & pass rate
21,379 MOT tests on the 2011 Volvo C30 are in this dataset, and 75.0% of them passed. That is 2.1 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests against 10.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, joints and pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 1,689 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.5% versus 10.4%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 21.8% fail against 25.8% for diesel, a 4.1-point gap across 21,379 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 3,163 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.4% | 2,223 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.9% | 1,477 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 1,464 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.7% | 1,215 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 816 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 1,689 |
| 2 | Joints | 1,472 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,156 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 781 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 746 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 712 |
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 | 29.9% | 6,400 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.3% | 5,186 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.8% | 4,223 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.3% | 3,915 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 1,619 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.1% | 1,512 |
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 | 413 | 10.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,612 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 6,537 | 23.8% |
| 90-120k | 6,646 | 26.6% |
| 120-150k | 3,675 | 28.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,489 | 29.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,769 | 25.8% |
| Petrol | 4,610 | 21.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,454 | 23.5% |
| 2022 | 4,423 | 25.1% |
| 2023 | 4,375 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 4,205 | 25.4% |
| 2025 | 3,922 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 2011 C30
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.4% 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 (6.9% 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 2011 Volvo C30s pass their MOT?
75.0% of the 21,379 2011 Volvo C30 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Volvo C30?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by suspension (10.4%).
Does the 2011 C30 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.4% in the 0-30k band to 29.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,379 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.