2004 Volvo V50 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,235 MOT tests, the 2004 Volvo V50 recorded a 69.1% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 28.0% of the time, so this is 2.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.2%) and lighting & signalling (13.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — joints alone was recorded 577 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 33.6% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.0pp more often than petrol ones (32.0% vs 30.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.2% | 1,172 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 993 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.2% | 811 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 655 |
| 5 | Tyres | 8.0% | 578 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 401 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 577 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 516 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 513 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 449 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 296 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 275 |
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 | 38.5% | 2,782 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.7% | 2,292 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.7% | 1,787 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 1,122 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.3% | 1,103 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.2% | 881 |
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 | 244 | 21.7% |
| 60-90k | 836 | 26.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,692 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 2,081 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,354 | 33.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,065 | 30.0% |
| Diesel | 3,170 | 32.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,113 | 31.5% |
| 2022 | 1,738 | 31.1% |
| 2023 | 1,395 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 1,133 | 31.2% |
| 2025 | 856 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 2004 V50
On a 2004 V50, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.2% 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 (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.2% 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.
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 2004 Volvo V50s pass their MOT?
69.1% of the 7,235 2004 Volvo V50 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Volvo V50?
Suspension, recorded in 16.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.7%).
Does the 2004 V50 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.7% in the 30-60k band to 33.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,235 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.