Which Volvo models fail their MOT less for their age?
In 2024, 78.2% of MOTs on the 21 Volvo models published here passed (74.1% first time, 4.0% after a fix at the test centre), from 590,865 first tests. Allowing for age (not mileage), these Volvo models fail about as often as normal: brand MOT Risk Index 95.1 (95% CI 94.7–95.5; 100 = normal).
Among Volvo models with at least 10,000 first tests, the Volvo XC40 has the lowest index (71.7) and the Volvo V50 the highest (110.4).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 25 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
Which Volvo models fail least and most for their age?
Of the 21 Volvo models, 10 fail less often than normal for their age, 7 more often, and 4 cannot be told apart from normal because their 95% intervals include 100.
| Model | MOT pass rate, % | Passed first time, % | MOT Risk Index | 95% interval | First tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo XC40 | 91.7 | 90.2 | 71.7 | 70.1–73.3 | 72,342 |
| Volvo S90 | 88.2 | 86.7 | 78.5 | 74.1–83.1 | 7,633 |
| Volvo S80 | 75.5 | 67.8 | 82.8 | 80.0–85.6 | 7,070 |
| Volvo XC60 | 83.6 | 80.5 | 83.4 | 82.4–84.4 | 113,027 |
| Volvo XC70 | 74.1 | 68.8 | 85.2 | 83.3–87.1 | 17,373 |
| Volvo S60 | 76.9 | 71.2 | 90.5 | 88.5–92.4 | 20,268 |
| Volvo V60 | 81.2 | 77.9 | 92.3 | 90.6–94.0 | 40,098 |
| Volvo V70 | 69.4 | 62.6 | 95.4 | 94.2–96.6 | 41,482 |
| Volvo XC90 | 78.2 | 73.8 | 95.4 | 94.2–96.6 | 71,826 |
| Volvo V90 | 85.5 | 83.9 | 96.3 | 92.8–99.9 | 14,705 |
| Volvo S70 | 71.6 | 66.0 | 98.6 | 86.1–112.0 | 433 |
| Volvo C70 | 64.8 | 59.0 | 99.2 | 96.5–101.8 | 7,712 |
| Volvo 700 Series | 72.3 | 65.5 | 100.4 | 91.4–109.8 | 867 |
| Volvo 240 | 68.3 | 64.0 | 103.2 | 95.9–110.8 | 1,311 |
| Volvo C30 | 65.5 | 58.6 | 103.4 | 101.8–105.0 | 22,664 |
| Volvo S40 | 63.6 | 56.8 | 104.6 | 102.9–106.4 | 18,102 |
| Volvo V40 | 76.4 | 72.9 | 108.1 | 107.0–109.2 | 98,785 |
| Volvo 900 | 68.0 | 62.6 | 108.8 | 103.9–113.8 | 3,112 |
| Volvo 800 Series | 68.0 | 62.0 | 109.8 | 103.4–116.3 | 1,788 |
| Volvo V50 | 60.8 | 54.8 | 110.4 | 109.0–111.7 | 29,883 |
| Volvo 400 Series | 63.0 | 59.4 | 118.9 | 104.9–133.5 | 384 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2024 · n = 590,865 (initial tests) · Method: MOT Risk Index = observed first-time failures ÷ failures expected for the same age profile × 100; brand index sums both over the 21 models · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Where are Volvo models worse than other cars of the same age?
Allowing for age, Volvo models fail on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment more than other cars of the same age: 18.8 failures per 100 tests against 17.3 expected (1.5 more; 95% interval 1.46 to 1.56).
| Failure group | Volvo, per 100 tests | Expected for the same age | Difference | 95% interval | Most common failure on (models) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 18.8 | 17.3 | +1.5 | 1.46 to 1.56 | 15 of 21 |
| Tyres | 10.0 | 8.7 | +1.3 | 1.23 to 1.30 | 4 of 21 |
| Steering | 3.2 | 2.8 | +0.4 | 0.36 to 0.40 | 0 of 21 |
| Brakes | 11.7 | 11.5 | +0.2 | 0.17 to 0.25 | 0 of 21 |
| Road Wheels | 0.4 | 0.4 | -0.0 | -0.03 to -0.02 | 0 of 21 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.4 | 0.4 | -0.0 | -0.04 to -0.03 | 0 of 21 |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5.3 | 5.6 | -0.3 | -0.30 to -0.25 | 0 of 21 |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 0.8 | 1.2 | -0.4 | -0.38 to -0.36 | 0 of 21 |
| Visibility | 6.8 | 7.9 | -1.1 | -1.13 to -1.07 | 0 of 21 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.4 | 3.8 | -1.3 | -1.37 to -1.33 | 0 of 21 |
| Suspension | 12.8 | 14.8 | -2.1 | -2.12 to -2.04 | 2 of 21 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,146,177 (initial tests of the 21 models) · Method: failure items per 100 tests against the rate expected for the same age and kind of vehicle; interval from the count of failures (Poisson); a group is named only when its interval is wholly above zero and it is at least 5% above the expected rate · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Volvo MOT statistics by model 2024 (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 25 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/brand/volvo/
How the MOT Risk Index and every figure on this page are calculated: methodology.
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