Does the Volvo V50 fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Volvo V50 records 33.17 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 28.16 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+5.01, 95% interval +4.77 to +5.24). It ranks 148 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Volvo V50 by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volvo V50 is “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”, recorded 15,692 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 15,692 | 6.95 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 10,946 | 4.85 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 10,760 | 4.77 |
| Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 6,649 | 2.94 |
| A lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning | 5,718 | 2.53 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 225,806 (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 V50 gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
29.8% of Volvo V50 MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 6,675 miles later (7,230 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 7,230 (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 V50 2004 · 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 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