2003 Volvo Xc90 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,164 MOT tests analysed for the 2003 Volvo Xc90, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 70.3% was below the average for large SUVs of a similar age (74.6%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.7% | 1,337 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.9% | 1,104 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.0% | 864 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 338 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.7% | 287 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.6% | 282 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 639 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 635 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 490 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 481 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 454 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 360 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 48.7% | 3,004 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.0% | 1,910 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.4% | 1,628 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 24.8% | 1,531 |
| 5 | Other defects | 22.5% | 1,387 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 19.4% | 1,193 |
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 | 34 | 35.3% |
| 30-60k | 84 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 278 | 26.3% |
| 90-120k | 891 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,728 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 3,101 | 30.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,073 | 30.1% |
| Petrol | 1,091 | 27.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,966 | 30.5% |
| 2022 | 1,547 | 29.5% |
| 2023 | 1,140 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 873 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 638 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Xc90
Before buying a 2003 Volvo Xc90, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 21.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (21.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.9% 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.
- Suspension (14.0% 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 2003 Volvo Xc90s pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 6,164 2003 Volvo Xc90 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Volvo Xc90?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.7% of tests, followed by brakes (17.9%).
Does the 2003 Xc90 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 35.3% in the 0-30k band to 30.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,164 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.