MOT Risk Index.co.uk

Does the Volvo C30 fail the MOT on brakes more than it should?

The Volvo C30 records 11.67 brakes failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 15.17 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−3.50, 95% interval −3.70 to −3.31). It ranks 519 of 712 models on brakes (1 = most failures above expected).

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on brakes · check a Volvo C30 by registration

What exactly fails on brakes?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volvo C30 is “a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm”, recorded 4,067 times in 2019–2024.

Volvo C30: most frequent brakes defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wordingItemsPer 100 tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm4,0672.63
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake1,9161.24
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement1,7261.12
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution.1,1860.77
Parking brake inoperative on one side1,0820.70

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 brakes advisory, how often does it fail next time?

12.4% of Volvo C30 MOTs with a brakes advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 5,630 miles later (23,095 advisories followed).

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 23,095 (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 body, chassis and structure 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