Does the Volvo C30 fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Volvo C30 records 9.49 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 7.37 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+2.12, 95% interval +1.96 to +2.27). It ranks 173 of 663 models on body, chassis and structure (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on body, chassis and structure · check a Volvo C30 by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volvo C30 is “A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc”, recorded 6,309 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 6,309 | 4.08 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 4,760 | 3.08 |
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 2,050 | 1.33 |
| A body panel or body component damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure | 252 | 0.16 |
| Fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap | 211 | 0.14 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 154,484 (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 C30 gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
14.7% of Volvo C30 MOTs with a body, chassis and structure advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 5,851 miles later (4,699 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 4,699 (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 C30 2006 · Volvo C30 2007 · Volvo C30 2008 · Volvo C30 2009 · 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 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