2003 Volvo XC90 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Volvo XC90 passed 70.3% of its 6,164 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.3 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 25.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 21.7% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 639 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 35.3% in the 0-30k band and 30.6% in the 150k+ band, a 4.7-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (30.1% vs 27.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 48.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.5% in 2021 to 28.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
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
On a 2003 XC90, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.