2012 Volvo C30 — MOT failures & pass rate
18,775 MOT tests on the 2012 Volvo C30 are in this dataset, and 77.7% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (21.3% fail rate), the 2012 C30 comes out 1.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.3% of all tests — 3.7 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and joints — position lamp alone was recorded 1,087 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.7% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.8pp more often than petrol ones (24.0% vs 20.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 2,308 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.6% | 1,621 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.4% | 1,194 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.5% | 1,025 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 902 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 599 |
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 | 1,087 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 966 |
| 3 | Joints | 830 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 657 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 637 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 624 |
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 | 27.6% | 5,182 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.9% | 4,484 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.3% | 3,621 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 2,833 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.1% | 1,138 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 1,137 |
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 | 664 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 3,976 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 6,663 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 4,724 | 25.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,958 | 26.6% |
| 150k+ | 789 | 25.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,404 | 24.0% |
| Petrol | 8,371 | 20.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,843 | 20.8% |
| 2022 | 3,765 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 3,769 | 22.1% |
| 2024 | 3,759 | 23.7% |
| 2025 | 3,639 | 24.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 C30
On a 2012 C30, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Suspension (8.6% 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 (6.4% 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 2012 Volvo C30s pass their MOT?
77.7% of the 18,775 2012 Volvo C30 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Volvo C30?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by suspension (8.6%).
Does the 2012 C30 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 25.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,775 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.