Volvo C30 2012: MOT failure rate for its age
32.9% of 18,154 MOT tests of the Volvo C30 first registered in 2012 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 93.2 (95% CI 90.8–95.6; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2012 Volvo C30 fails less often than other build years of the same model at the same age.
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 32.9 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 18154 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 90.8–95.6) | 93.2 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 18154 |
| Rank among this model's 8 build years | 3 | of 8 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 18154 |
| Tested in 2024 | 2930 | tests | median 86,417 miles | 2024 | 2930 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2012 Volvo C30 fail at each age?
Cars built in 2012 were tested at ages 7 to 12 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 3,121 | 29 | 27.5–30.6 | 31.6 | 91.9 |
| 8 | 3,038 | 32.1 | 30.5–33.8 | 33.6 | 95.6 |
| 9 | 3,075 | 33.2 | 31.6–34.9 | 35.6 | 93.4 |
| 10 | 3,012 | 33.1 | 31.4–34.8 | 34.9 | 94.7 |
| 11 | 2,978 | 33.9 | 32.2–35.6 | 38 | 89.2 |
| 12 | 2,930 | 36.2 | 34.5–38 | 38.3 | 94.6 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 18,154 (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 2012 Volvo C30?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2012 is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: 25.9 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 2012 were tested at ages 7 to 12.
| Failure group | Built 2012, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 25.9 | 33.4 | 4,704 |
| Suspension | 14.4 | 21.9 | 2,607 |
| Tyres | 11.4 | 13.2 | 2,068 |
| Brakes | 9.3 | 11.7 | 1,688 |
| Body, chassis, structure | 9.2 | 9.5 | 1,678 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 18,154 (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 2012 compare with the years around it?
Among the 8 published build years of the Volvo C30, 2012 ranks 3 (1 = fails least for its age). 2011: index 102.5. 2013: index 91.9.
| 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 2012 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-c30/2012/
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 2009 · Volvo C30 2010 · Volvo C30 2011 · 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