2016 Volvo V90 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,547 MOT tests, the 2016 Volvo V90 recorded an 84.8% pass rate. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (15.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.5%) and body, structure & corrosion (4.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, brake pads and ball joint dust cover — joints alone was recorded 127 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.8% versus 8.5%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 141 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 107 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.7% | 94 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.4% | 86 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 44 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.1% | 27 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 127 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 82 |
| 3 | Ball joint dust cover | 53 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 41 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 26 |
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 | 23.2% | 590 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.8% | 377 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.8% | 198 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.7% | 195 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.4% | 87 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 83 |
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 | 142 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 906 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 769 | 15.1% |
| 90-120k | 422 | 18.0% |
| 120-150k | 191 | 19.9% |
| 150k+ | 115 | 14.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 480 | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 510 | 14.5% |
| 2023 | 501 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 529 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 527 | 19.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 V90
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (4.2% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (3.7% 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.
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 2016 Volvo V90s pass their MOT?
84.8% of the 2,547 2016 Volvo V90 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Volvo V90?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (4.2%).
Does the 2016 V90 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 14.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,547 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.