Does the Volvo 900 fail the MOT on brakes more than it should?
The Volvo 900 records 21.89 brakes failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 20.67 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+1.22, 95% interval +0.46 to +1.99). It ranks 259 of 712 models on brakes (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on brakes · check a Volvo 900 by registration
What exactly fails on brakes?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volvo 900 is “Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake”, recorded 437 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 437 | 3.02 |
| Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 388 | 2.69 |
| A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched | 265 | 1.83 |
| Parking brake inoperative on one side | 219 | 1.52 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 206 | 1.43 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 14,448 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Volvo 900 gets a brakes advisory, how often does it fail next time?
17.7% of Volvo 900 MOTs with a brakes advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 1,831 miles later (2,699 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,699 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Volvo 900 by postcode area · Volvo 900 body, chassis and structure failures · Volvo 900 vehicle identification failures · Volvo 900 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Volvo 900 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volvo 900 seat belts and airbags failures · Volvo 900 steering failures · Volvo 900 suspension failures · Volvo 900 tyres failures · Volvo 900 visibility failures