2021 Volvo V90 — MOT failures & pass rate
2,797 MOT tests on the 2021 Volvo V90 are in this dataset, and 91.4% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 10.4% of the time, so this is 1.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.8% of tests against 0.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 42 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 V90 fails 6.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.1 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 8.4% of the time against 8.7% for diesel.
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 — 5.9% of tests failed in 2023 against 8.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.8% | 191 |
| 2 | Visibility | 0.9% | 26 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 25 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.9% | 24 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 11 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 42 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 30 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 26 |
| 4 | Wipers | 25 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 7 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 7 |
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% | 649 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.5% | 210 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.7% | 132 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 91 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.0% | 28 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 12 |
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 | 915 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,446 | 8.9% |
| 60-90k | 344 | 13.1% |
| 90-120k | 68 | 7.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 1,830 | 8.4% |
| Diesel | 945 | 8.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 51 | 5.9% |
| 2024 | 1,355 | 8.9% |
| 2025 | 1,375 | 8.4% |
What to check before buying a 2021 V90
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.8% 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.
- Visibility (0.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (0.9% 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 2021 Volvo V90s pass their MOT?
91.4% of the 2,797 2021 Volvo V90 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volvo V90?
Tyres, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by visibility (0.9%).
Does the 2021 V90 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 7.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,797 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.