Does the Volvo 900 fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Volvo 900 records 12.56 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 7.88 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+4.68, 95% interval +4.10 to +5.25). It ranks 39 of 678 models on noise, emissions and leaks (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on noise, emissions and leaks · check a Volvo 900 by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volvo 900 is “Emissions levels exceed default limits”, recorded 471 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Emissions levels exceed default limits | 471 | 3.26 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 341 | 2.36 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 336 | 2.33 |
| Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 322 | 2.23 |
| Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users | 115 | 0.80 |
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 noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
12.7% of Volvo 900 MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 2,571 miles later (2,006 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,006 (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 brakes failures · Volvo 900 vehicle identification failures · Volvo 900 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Volvo 900 seat belts and airbags failures · Volvo 900 steering failures · Volvo 900 suspension failures · Volvo 900 tyres failures · Volvo 900 visibility failures