2014 Volvo XC90 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Volvo XC90 passed 81.8% of its 13,845 recorded MOT tests. Against large SUVs of a similar age (15.1% fail rate), the 2014 XC90 comes out 3.1pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (9.8%) and lighting & signalling (9.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, tread depth and decelerometer (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 737 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.7% once past 150k — 4.8× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 9.8% | 1,364 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 1,313 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.4% | 742 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 361 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.8% | 256 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.9% | 120 |
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 | 737 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 519 |
| 3 | Decelerometer (sp) | 471 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 447 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 412 |
| 6 | Wipers | 254 |
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 | 25.6% | 3,543 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.6% | 2,573 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.3% | 1,834 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.5% | 1,733 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 524 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 421 |
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 | 116 | 5.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,992 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 5,140 | 17.1% |
| 90-120k | 4,141 | 20.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,793 | 21.8% |
| 150k+ | 663 | 24.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,726 | 15.6% |
| 2022 | 2,766 | 17.5% |
| 2023 | 2,782 | 17.9% |
| 2024 | 2,786 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 2,785 | 20.3% |
What to check before buying a 2014 XC90
On a 2014 XC90, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (9.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.4% 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 2014 Volvo XC90s pass their MOT?
81.8% of the 13,845 2014 Volvo XC90 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Volvo XC90?
Brakes, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.5%).
Does the 2014 XC90 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.2% in the 0-30k band to 24.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,845 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.