2009 Volvo V50 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Volvo V50 passed 72.4% of its 33,328 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 25.3% of the time, so this is 2.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.3%) and suspension (13.3%) 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 pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 2,404 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.4% versus 10.8%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.0% fail against 28.0% for diesel, a 3.0-point gap across 33,328 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 31.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 4,781 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.3% | 4,426 |
| 3 | Tyres | 8.1% | 2,684 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.6% | 2,203 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 1,601 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 1,416 |
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 | 2,404 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,724 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,702 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,577 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,197 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,098 |
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 | 31.5% | 10,493 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.8% | 8,943 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.3% | 7,446 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 5,314 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.6% | 3,854 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 3,224 |
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 | 268 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,886 | 19.7% |
| 60-90k | 5,029 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 8,550 | 27.1% |
| 120-150k | 9,293 | 30.0% |
| 150k+ | 8,294 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 29,058 | 28.0% |
| Petrol | 4,270 | 25.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,710 | 27.1% |
| 2022 | 7,228 | 26.1% |
| 2023 | 6,927 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 6,074 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 5,389 | 28.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 V50
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.3% 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 (8.1% 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 2009 Volvo V50s pass their MOT?
72.4% of the 33,328 2009 Volvo V50 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volvo V50?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by suspension (13.3%).
Does the 2009 V50 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 33,328 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.