2004 · 20 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2004 Volvo V50 MOT pass rate and common faults

797 MOT tests in 2024. 53.1% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

94Below average
Passed first time53.1%
Failed or needed repairs46.9%
Typical mileage at test129,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 797 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt8.3%
  2. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements7.3%
  3. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction5.5%
  4. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.6%
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed4.3%
    57 marked dangerous
  6. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.9%
  7. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak3.3%
  8. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side3.1%
  9. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.0%
    44 marked dangerous
  10. Position lamp: not working3.0%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension28.9%
  2. Lights & electrics27.5%
  3. Brakes25.8%
  4. Body & chassis13.3%
  5. Tyres13.0%
  6. Emissions & leaks11.8%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.5%
  8. Steering4.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm23.2%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.2%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.2%
  4. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened9.4%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.4%

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: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All V50 years2005 V50 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 Volvo V50?

In 2024, 53.1% of 2004 Volvo V50 cars passed their MOT first time, across 797 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Volvo V50?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2004 Volvo V50 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 94, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).