Does the Volvo 900 fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Volvo 900 records 37.06 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 29.72 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+7.34, 95% interval +6.34 to +8.33). It ranks 108 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Volvo 900 by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volvo 900 is “A battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier”, recorded 782 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier | 782 | 5.41 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 745 | 5.16 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 586 | 4.06 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 408 | 2.82 |
| A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 284 | 1.97 |
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
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 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