2008 Volvo XC90 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 10,848 MOT tests, the 2008 Volvo XC90 recorded a 75.1% pass rate. That is 2.1 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 22.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.3%) and brakes (14.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, decelerometer (sp) and pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 1,139 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 27.3% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 24.2% of the time against 25.0% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 1,767 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.4% | 1,561 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.5% | 813 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.4% | 587 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 413 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 293 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 1,139 |
| 2 | Decelerometer (sp) | 600 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 599 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 563 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 486 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 447 |
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 | 38.5% | 4,180 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.5% | 2,873 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.5% | 2,551 |
| 4 | Other defects | 18.2% | 1,971 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 1,673 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 1,011 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 175 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 783 | 20.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,469 | 23.2% |
| 120-150k | 3,657 | 25.2% |
| 150k+ | 3,752 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,182 | 25.0% |
| Petrol | 666 | 24.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,418 | 23.5% |
| 2022 | 2,366 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 2,250 | 25.6% |
| 2024 | 2,007 | 25.5% |
| 2025 | 1,807 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 2008 XC90
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.4% 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 (7.5% 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 2008 Volvo XC90s pass their MOT?
75.1% of the 10,848 2008 Volvo XC90 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Volvo XC90?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by brakes (14.4%).
Does the 2008 XC90 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.1% in the 30-60k band to 27.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,848 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.