2007 Volvo V50 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 21,638 MOT tests, the 2007 Volvo V50 recorded a 71.3% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 26.9% of the time, so this is 1.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.2%) and lighting & signalling (14.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, coil spring and joints — position lamp alone was recorded 1,360 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.0% versus 18.8%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.5% fail against 29.1% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 21,638 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.2% | 3,296 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 3,126 |
| 3 | Tyres | 8.0% | 1,740 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.0% | 1,739 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 1,585 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 878 |
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 | 1,360 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,179 |
| 3 | Joints | 1,160 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,015 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 1,004 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 829 |
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 | 33.9% | 7,341 |
| 2 | Tyres | 32.6% | 7,060 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.8% | 5,587 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 3,713 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.7% | 3,181 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.8% | 2,326 |
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 | 101 | 18.8% |
| 30-60k | 645 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,175 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 4,652 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 6,279 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 7,782 | 31.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,035 | 29.1% |
| Petrol | 5,603 | 27.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,443 | 28.2% |
| 2022 | 4,898 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 4,413 | 29.0% |
| 2024 | 3,801 | 29.5% |
| 2025 | 3,083 | 29.3% |
What to check before buying a 2007 V50
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.2% 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 (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (8.0% 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 2007 Volvo V50s pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 21,638 2007 Volvo V50 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Volvo V50?
Suspension, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.4%).
Does the 2007 V50 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.8% in the 0-30k band to 31.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,638 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.