Volvo V50 2004: MOT failure rate for its age
49.0% of 8,543 MOT tests of the Volvo V50 first registered in 2004 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 103.0 (95% CI 99.8–106.1; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2004 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 | 49.0 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 8543 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 99.8–106.1) | 103.0 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 8543 |
| Rank among this model's 9 build years | 9 | of 9 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 8543 |
| Tested in 2024 | 826 | tests | median 129,355 miles | 2024 | 826 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2004 Volvo V50 fail at each age?
Cars built in 2004 were tested at ages 15 to 20 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 2,154 | 50.7 | 48.6–52.9 | 50.3 | 100.9 |
| 16 | 1,736 | 49.1 | 46.8–51.5 | 47.7 | 103.1 |
| 17 | 1,532 | 49.2 | 46.7–51.7 | 46.8 | 105.2 |
| 18 | 1,268 | 48.9 | 46.2–51.6 | 46.3 | 105.6 |
| 19 | 1,027 | 46.7 | 43.7–49.8 | 46.5 | 100.5 |
| 20 | 826 | 46.9 | 43.5–50.3 | 45.3 | 103.5 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 8,543 (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 2004 Volvo V50?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2004 is suspension: 39.1 items per 100 first tests, against 28.5 across all build years of the Volvo V50. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2004 were tested at ages 15 to 20.
| Failure group | Built 2004, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 39.1 | 28.5 | 3,340 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 35.2 | 33.2 | 3,011 |
| Brakes | 25.3 | 14.6 | 2,161 |
| Body, chassis, structure | 22.2 | 14.8 | 1,897 |
| Tyres | 16.9 | 15.3 | 1,443 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 8,543 (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 2004 compare with the years around it?
Among the 9 published build years of the Volvo V50, 2004 ranks 9 (1 = fails least for its age). 2005: index 102.7.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 103.0 | 99.8–106.1 | no different | 8,543 |
| 2005 | 102.7 | 100.6–104.8 | worse | 19,717 |
| 2006 | 95.8 | 94.0–97.7 | better | 23,064 |
| 2007 | 98.3 | 96.4–100.2 | no different | 22,663 |
| 2008 | 102.3 | 100.8–103.8 | worse | 39,994 |
| 2009 | 98.2 | 96.6–99.8 | better | 32,847 |
| 2010 | 99.0 | 97.3–100.7 | no different | 32,168 |
| 2011 | 101.8 | 99.9–103.7 | no different | 27,200 |
| 2012 | 96.1 | 93.9–98.3 | better | 19,402 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 225,598 (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 V50 2004 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-v50/2004/
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 V50 2005 · Volvo V50 2006 · Volvo V50 2007 · Volvo V50 2008 · Volvo V50 2009 · Volvo V50 2010 · Volvo V50 2011 · Volvo V50 2012 · Volvo V50 in Norway · Volvo V50 in Finland · Volvo V50 in the Netherlands · Volvo V50 by postcode area · Volvo V50 body, chassis and structure failures · Volvo V50 brakes failures · Volvo V50 vehicle identification failures · Volvo V50 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Volvo V50 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volvo V50 road wheels failures · Volvo V50 seat belts and airbags failures · Volvo V50 steering failures · Volvo V50 suspension failures · Volvo V50 tyres failures · Volvo V50 visibility failures