Volvo C30 2009: MOT failure rate for its age
40.4% of 35,981 MOT tests of the Volvo C30 first registered in 2009 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 100.5 (95% CI 98.9–102.1; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2009 build year is no different from other years of the same model at the same age.
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 40.4 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 35981 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 98.9–102.1) | 100.5 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 35981 |
| Rank among this model's 8 build years | 6 | of 8 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 35981 |
| Tested in 2024 | 5141 | tests | median 103,520 miles | 2024 | 5141 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2009 Volvo C30 fail at each age?
Cars built in 2009 were tested at ages 10 to 15 between 2019 and 2024. Each row compares their first-time failure share with what this model normally shows at that age, after allowing for the overall failure level of each test year.
| Age | Tests | Failed, % | 95% interval | Normal for this model at that age, % | Index (100 = normal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 6,705 | 37.2 | 36–38.4 | 39.3 | 94.7 |
| 11 | 6,298 | 39.5 | 38.3–40.7 | 39.4 | 100.1 |
| 12 | 6,226 | 40.3 | 39.1–41.6 | 39.6 | 101.9 |
| 13 | 5,988 | 40.6 | 39.4–41.9 | 39.7 | 102.4 |
| 14 | 5,623 | 42.9 | 41.6–44.2 | 41.7 | 102.8 |
| 15 | 5,141 | 42.6 | 41.3–44 | 41.8 | 101.8 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 35,981 (initial tests) · Method: normal rate = this model's first-time failure share at that age across its build years (cells of 400+ tests), adjusted for each test year's overall level; cells of 30+ tests, under 500 marked rough · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
What fails most on the 2009 Volvo C30?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2009 is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: 34.9 items per 100 first tests, against 33.4 across all build years of the Volvo C30. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2009 were tested at ages 10 to 15.
| Failure group | Built 2009, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 34.9 | 33.4 | 12,543 |
| Suspension | 24.6 | 21.9 | 8,862 |
| Tyres | 14 | 13.2 | 5,030 |
| Brakes | 11.3 | 11.7 | 4,081 |
| Visibility | 9.8 | 9 | 3,515 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 35,981 (initial tests of this build year) · Method: failure items grouped by DVSA's top-level defect groups, per 100 initial tests; groups with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How does 2009 compare with the years around it?
Among the 8 published build years of the Volvo C30, 2009 ranks 6 (1 = fails least for its age). 2008: index 105.3. 2010: index 99.8.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 91.9 | 81.8–102.1 | no different (rough estimate) | 787 |
| 2007 | 98.1 | 95.8–100.4 | no different | 16,659 |
| 2008 | 105.3 | 103.2–107.3 | worse | 22,558 |
| 2009 | 100.5 | 98.9–102.1 | no different | 35,981 |
| 2010 | 99.8 | 98.1–101.5 | no different | 33,693 |
| 2011 | 102.5 | 100.2–104.8 | worse | 20,341 |
| 2012 | 93.2 | 90.8–95.6 | better | 18,154 |
| 2013 | 91.9 | 87.7–96.1 | better | 6,069 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 154,242 (initial tests) · Method: observed failures against those expected for the same model at the same ages, test-year level adjusted; verdict follows the printed one-decimal bound · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Volvo C30 2009 MOT statistics (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 30 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/volvo-c30/2009/
How every figure is calculated: methodology. Age, test year and build year are tied together (age = test year − build year), so the test-year level is taken as observed, not estimated.
Other pages for this model
Volvo C30 2006 · Volvo C30 2007 · Volvo C30 2008 · Volvo C30 2010 · Volvo C30 2011 · Volvo C30 2012 · Volvo C30 2013 · Volvo C30 in Norway · Volvo C30 in Finland · Volvo C30 in the Netherlands · Volvo C30 by postcode area · Volvo C30 body, chassis and structure failures · Volvo C30 brakes failures · Volvo C30 vehicle identification failures · Volvo C30 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Volvo C30 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volvo C30 road wheels failures · Volvo C30 seat belts and airbags failures · Volvo C30 steering failures · Volvo C30 suspension failures · Volvo C30 tyres failures · Volvo C30 visibility failures