2018 Volvo S90 — MOT failures & pass rate
13,785 MOT tests on the 2018 Volvo S90 are in this dataset, and 90.8% of them passed. Against executive cars of a similar age (10.8% fail rate), the 2018 S90 comes out 1.7pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.8%) and brakes (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, tread depth and wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 575 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.0% versus 6.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 664 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.2% | 440 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.0% | 138 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 125 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 95 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.5% | 70 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 575 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 405 |
| 3 | Wipers | 105 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 98 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 69 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 55 |
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 | 22.2% | 3,055 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 2,256 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.1% | 839 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.8% | 387 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 349 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.5% | 209 |
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 | 2,835 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 6,173 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,247 | 11.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,001 | 10.1% |
| 120-150k | 343 | 10.8% |
| 150k+ | 185 | 13.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,994 | 9.3% |
| Petrol | 476 | 6.9% |
| Hybrid | 315 | 7.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,744 | 7.0% |
| 2022 | 2,812 | 8.6% |
| 2023 | 2,768 | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 2,751 | 10.5% |
| 2025 | 2,710 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a 2018 S90
On a 2018 S90, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.8% 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.
- Brakes (3.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Visibility (1.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2018 Volvo S90s pass their MOT?
90.8% of the 13,785 2018 Volvo S90 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Volvo S90?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by brakes (3.2%).
Does the 2018 S90 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 13.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,785 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.