2016 · 8 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2016 Volvo XC90 MOT pass rate and common faults

5,182 MOT tests in 2024. 78.6% passed first time, compared with 76.6% for all cars the same age.

103Above average
Passed first time78.6%
Failed or needed repairs21.4%
Typical mileage at test80,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 5,182 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play4.5%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.7%
    187 marked dangerous
  3. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.5%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.5%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.7%
    141 marked dangerous
  6. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.3%
    99 marked dangerous
  7. Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.3%
  8. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.2%
  9. Door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle1.2%
  10. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.8%

Problem areas

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

  1. Tyres7.5%
  2. Steering6.5%
  3. Brakes4.7%
  4. Suspension4.4%
  5. Lights & electrics2.1%
  6. Body & chassis2.0%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)1.9%
  8. Emissions & leaks1.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.0%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick12.4%
  3. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play11.5%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn7.8%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened5.7%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: track rod end: ball joint has excessive play. 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 2016 Volvo XC90?

In 2024, 78.6% of 2016 Volvo XC90 cars passed their MOT first time, across 5,182 tests. The average for all 8-year-old cars was 76.6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2016 Volvo XC90?

The most common failure reasons were track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick; tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords. The biggest problem area was tyres.

Is the 2016 Volvo XC90 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 103, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).