2012 Volvo V50 — MOT failures & pass rate
21,073 MOT tests on the 2012 Volvo V50 are in this dataset, and 74.0% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (21.3% fail rate), the 2012 V50 comes out 4.7pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 13.0% of tests against 9.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, coil spring and pins and bushes — joints alone was recorded 1,563 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.0% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 19.2% fail against 26.3% for diesel, a 7.1-point gap across 21,073 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 24.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.0% | 2,739 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 1,906 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.5% | 1,571 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 1,507 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.2% | 1,095 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 752 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 1,563 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,377 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,021 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 801 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 645 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 530 |
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 | 30.6% | 6,442 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.6% | 4,340 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.0% | 4,209 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 2,822 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.2% | 2,353 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 1,491 |
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 | 250 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,806 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 4,670 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 6,052 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 4,616 | 27.3% |
| 150k+ | 3,676 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 20,203 | 26.3% |
| Petrol | 870 | 19.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,262 | 24.2% |
| 2022 | 4,277 | 25.3% |
| 2023 | 4,296 | 26.3% |
| 2024 | 4,169 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 4,069 | 27.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 V50
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.0% 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 (9.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.5% 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 2012 Volvo V50s pass their MOT?
74.0% of the 21,073 2012 Volvo V50 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Volvo V50?
Suspension, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.0%).
Does the 2012 V50 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,073 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.