2008 Volvo V50 — MOT failures & pass rate
39,621 MOT tests on the 2008 Volvo V50 are in this dataset, and 70.8% of them passed. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.6%) and suspension (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, joints and coil spring — position lamp alone was recorded 3,328 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.4% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 29.0% of the time against 29.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 32.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 6,171 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.4% | 5,694 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.9% | 3,126 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 3,100 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.7% | 3,059 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 1,709 |
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 | 3,328 |
| 2 | Joints | 2,378 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 2,079 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,876 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 1,872 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 1,435 |
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 | 32.0% | 12,697 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.9% | 11,830 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.7% | 9,780 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 6,567 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 5,934 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.3% | 4,489 |
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 | 91 | 18.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,000 | 18.0% |
| 60-90k | 4,696 | 24.4% |
| 90-120k | 10,035 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 11,559 | 30.4% |
| 150k+ | 12,223 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 27,960 | 29.3% |
| Petrol | 11,661 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,508 | 28.2% |
| 2022 | 8,870 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 8,113 | 29.7% |
| 2024 | 7,086 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 6,044 | 30.5% |
What to check before buying a 2008 V50
On a 2008 V50, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.4% 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 (7.9% 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 2008 Volvo V50s pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 39,621 2008 Volvo V50 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Volvo V50?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by suspension (14.4%).
Does the 2008 V50 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.7% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 39,621 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.