2008 · 16 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2008 Volvo C30 MOT pass rate and common faults

2,949 MOT tests in 2024. 54.6% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

96Below average
Passed first time54.6%
Failed or needed repairs45.4%
Typical mileage at test112,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 2,949 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.1%
  2. Position lamp: not working4.7%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.1%
  4. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps4.1%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.8%
    188 marked dangerous
  6. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.5%
    154 marked dangerous
  7. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.4%
  8. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.0%
    105 marked dangerous
  9. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.0%
  10. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.6%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics29.9%
  2. Suspension24.8%
  3. Brakes16.1%
  4. Tyres11.7%
  5. Body & chassis8.5%
  6. Emissions & leaks7.5%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.2%
  8. Steering4.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm22.2%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.6%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn11.3%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.4%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened8.3%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2008 Volvo C30?

In 2024, 54.6% of 2008 Volvo C30 cars passed their MOT first time, across 2,949 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 Volvo C30?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; position lamp: not working; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2008 Volvo C30 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 96, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).