2019 Volvo V90 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Volvo V90 passed 88.3% of its 20,016 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 11.5%, so the 2019 V90 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.8%) and brakes (3.5%) 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 joints — brake pads alone was recorded 843 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.8% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.9pp more often than hybrid ones (12.2% vs 10.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 1,169 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.5% | 699 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 413 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 258 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.2% | 233 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 147 |
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 | 843 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 405 |
| 3 | Joints | 294 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 189 |
| 5 | Wipers | 180 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 172 |
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 | 24.0% | 4,803 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 3,289 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.0% | 1,201 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 561 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 359 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.2% | 241 |
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 | 5,492 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 9,978 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 3,377 | 13.9% |
| 90-120k | 798 | 15.3% |
| 120-150k | 238 | 16.0% |
| 150k+ | 133 | 18.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,623 | 12.2% |
| Petrol | 7,626 | 11.1% |
| Hybrid | 767 | 10.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 103 | 9.7% |
| 2022 | 4,897 | 9.9% |
| 2023 | 5,018 | 11.9% |
| 2024 | 4,984 | 12.6% |
| 2025 | 5,014 | 12.5% |
What to check before buying a 2019 V90
On a 2019 V90, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.8% 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 (3.5% 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 (2.1% 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 2019 Volvo V90s pass their MOT?
88.3% of the 20,016 2019 Volvo V90 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Volvo V90?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by brakes (3.5%).
Does the 2019 V90 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 18.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,016 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.