2020 Volvo V90 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Volvo V90 passed 88.8% of its 8,356 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 10.9%, so the 2020 V90 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.6%) and brakes (3.6%) 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 394 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 V90 fails 8.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.9% at 120-150k, a spread of only 2.3 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 11.1% of the time against 11.7% for hybrid.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.1% of tests failed in 2022 against 11.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.6% | 547 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.6% | 301 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.2% | 99 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 87 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 64 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 38 |
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 | 394 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 114 |
| 3 | Wipers | 82 |
| 4 | Joints | 71 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 67 |
| 6 | Washers | 27 |
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% | 1,934 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.8% | 1,324 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.6% | 467 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 202 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.4% | 116 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 89 |
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 | 2,856 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 4,218 | 12.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,010 | 13.3% |
| 90-120k | 203 | 13.8% |
| 120-150k | 46 | 10.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,882 | 11.3% |
| Diesel | 3,565 | 11.1% |
| Hybrid | 909 | 11.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 99 | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 2,765 | 10.8% |
| 2024 | 2,731 | 11.3% |
| 2025 | 2,752 | 11.9% |
What to check before buying a 2020 V90
On a 2020 V90, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.6% 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 (3.6% 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.
- Visibility (1.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2020 Volvo V90s pass their MOT?
88.8% of the 8,356 2020 Volvo V90 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volvo V90?
Tyres, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by brakes (3.6%).
Does the 2020 V90 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 10.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,356 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.