2010 Volvo XC90 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 38,028 MOT tests, the 2010 Volvo XC90 recorded a 77.2% pass rate. Against large SUVs of a similar age (20.6% fail rate), the 2010 XC90 comes out 2.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.8% of all tests — 3.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, decelerometer (sp) and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 4,363 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.0% in the 0-30k band and 24.9% in the 150k+ band, a 10.9-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.6pp more often than petrol ones (22.9% vs 18.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 6,395 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.1% | 4,979 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.0% | 1,905 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.5% | 1,716 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 1,182 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 837 |
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 | 4,363 |
| 2 | Decelerometer (sp) | 1,943 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,676 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 1,536 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 1,488 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 1,463 |
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 | 26.0% | 9,904 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.9% | 9,840 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.3% | 8,473 |
| 4 | Other defects | 17.0% | 6,455 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 5,855 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 2,278 |
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 | 57 | 14.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,007 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 5,015 | 18.8% |
| 90-120k | 12,096 | 22.7% |
| 120-150k | 11,631 | 23.7% |
| 150k+ | 8,216 | 24.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 37,459 | 22.9% |
| Petrol | 568 | 18.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,923 | 21.1% |
| 2022 | 7,975 | 23.1% |
| 2023 | 7,709 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 7,466 | 24.0% |
| 2025 | 6,955 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a 2010 XC90
On a 2010 XC90, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.1% 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.
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
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 2010 Volvo XC90s pass their MOT?
77.2% of the 38,028 2010 Volvo XC90 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Volvo XC90?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by brakes (13.1%).
Does the 2010 XC90 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.0% in the 0-30k band to 24.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 38,028 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.