2018 Volvo V90 — MOT failures & pass rate
22,196 MOT tests on the 2018 Volvo V90 are in this dataset, and 88.9% of them passed. That is 1.2 percentage points better than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 12.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.7%) and brakes (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, tread depth and wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 838 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.4% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 10.1% of the time against 11.3% for hybrid.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 1,269 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.2% | 704 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 501 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.2% | 270 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 196 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 174 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 838 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 422 |
| 3 | Wipers | 216 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 213 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 195 |
| 6 | Joints | 143 |
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 | 23.5% | 5,225 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.2% | 3,605 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.5% | 1,451 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 617 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.7% | 608 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 472 |
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 | 4,262 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 10,343 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 5,435 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,533 | 14.0% |
| 120-150k | 392 | 14.0% |
| 150k+ | 228 | 18.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 18,821 | 11.3% |
| Petrol | 2,646 | 10.1% |
| Hybrid | 729 | 11.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,319 | 8.7% |
| 2022 | 4,386 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 4,475 | 11.4% |
| 2024 | 4,506 | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 4,510 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 V90
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.7% 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.
- Brakes (3.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (2.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2018 Volvo V90s pass their MOT?
88.9% of the 22,196 2018 Volvo V90 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Volvo V90?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by brakes (3.2%).
Does the 2018 V90 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 18.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,196 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.