Volvo Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems by model

Free Volvo vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.

  • 77% MOT pass rate (UK 77%)
  • 6,633 Volvos checked

Volvo reg check

Example: AB12 CDE (Free instant lookup)

Free MOT, mileage and tax check by reg or VIN. Full car history check from £3.99.

Full Volvo history check from £3.99

The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full Volvo car check:

  • Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
  • Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
  • Police stolen marker
  • High risk register
  • Previous keepers and last change
  • Plate and colour changes
  • Scrapped, imported or exported
  • Mileage anomaly check
Check a Volvo by reg → See a sample full report Prices and bundles

£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.

Volvo car check by model

MOT pass rate of each Volvo model, all its versions included; the line marks the UK average (77%). Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.

  • Volvo V40 986 vehicles checked 79% Top failure area: lights and indicators
  • Volvo XC60 931 vehicles checked 83% Top failure area: lights and indicators Volvo XC60 car check →
  • Volvo XC90 788 vehicles checked 75% Top failure area: lights and indicators
  • Volvo XC40 452 vehicles checked 90% Top failure area: tyres
  • Volvo V60 439 vehicles checked 82% Top failure area: tyres
  • Volvo V70 407 vehicles checked 74% Top failure area: lights and indicators
  • Volvo V50 360 vehicles checked 73% Top failure area: lights and indicators
  • Volvo C30 353 vehicles checked 74% Top failure area: lights and indicators
  • Volvo S60 322 vehicles checked 78% Top failure area: lights and indicators
  • Volvo S40 316 vehicles checked 74% Top failure area: lights and indicators
  • Volvo FH 237 vehicles checked
  • Volvo V90 125 vehicles checked
  • Volvo XC70 125 vehicles checked
  • Volvo S90 123 vehicles checked
  • Volvo S80 113 vehicles checked
  • Volvo FM 103 vehicles checked
  • Volvo C70 92 vehicles checked
  • Volvo FL 65 vehicles checked
  • Volvo 900 Series 40 vehicles checked
  • Volvo FE 33 vehicles checked
  • Volvo 800 Series 29 vehicles checked
  • Volvo 700 Series 25 vehicles checked
  • Volvo 240 24 vehicles checked

Free Volvo MOT History and Mileage Data

What the MOT records of 6,633 Volvo vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.

  • 77%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 8,500typical miles a year
  • 5.4%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 72,791MOT tests analysed
  • 2009–2018built (middle half)
  • 67%diesel; 21% petrol; 9% hybrid electric (clean); 1% electric diesel

Volvo common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on Volvo vehicles, as a share of all their MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once).

Top 19 Volvo MOT failures

Reasons the car failed its MOT.

  1. Position lamp not working2.7%
  2. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
  3. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.6%
  4. Coil spring fractured or broken1.5%
  5. Parking brake efficiency below requirements1.4%
  6. Registration plate lamp not working1.3%
  7. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively1.2%
  8. Tyre has ply or cords exposed1.1%
  9. Headlamp aim too low1.1%
  10. Headlamp not working on dipped beam1.1%
Show all 19
  1. Headlamp aim too high0.8%
  2. Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.7%
  3. Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt0.7%
  4. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid0.6%
  5. Track rod end ball joint has excessive play0.6%
  6. Direction indicator incorrect colour0.6%
  7. Stop lamp not working0.5%
  8. Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect0.5%
  9. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps0.5%

Top 20 Volvo MOT advisories

Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.

  1. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge7.7%
  2. Brake pad wearing thin7.0%
  3. Tyre worn close to the legal limit4.6%
  4. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened4.5%
  5. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources2.1%
  6. Oil leak, but not excessive2.0%
  7. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing2.0%
  8. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement1.9%
  9. Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt1.8%
  10. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread1.8%
Show all 20
  1. Coil spring corroded1.3%
  2. Play in steering rack inner joint1.2%
  3. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.1%
  4. Nail in tyre1.1%
  5. Direction indicator slightly discoloured1.1%
  6. Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement1.0%
  7. Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated1.0%
  8. Brake disc worn, but not excessively0.9%
  9. Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play0.7%
  10. Track rod end ball joint has slight play0.7%

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 6,633 Volvo vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp (72,791 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Before buying a used Volvo

The MOT record shows condition on the day of the test. Run these checks on the Volvo you're looking at too:

Volvo MOT questions

Is a Volvo car check free?

The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any Volvo are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.

What is the most common MOT failure on the Volvo?

Position lamp not working: found at 2.7% of the Volvo MOT tests we analysed. By area, lights and indicators items appear in 45% of failed tests.

What is the Volvo MOT pass rate?

77% of 72,791 MOT tests on 6,633 Volvo vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.

What are the common problems with the Volvo?

Going by its MOT records, the Volvo's most common failures are position lamp not working (2.7% of tests); tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.1% of tests); brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick (1.6% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.

What is the most common MOT advisory on the Volvo?

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge: noted at 7.7% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.

How many miles a year is a Volvo typically driven?

About 8,500 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 5.4% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.

Which Volvo model passes its MOT most often?

Among Volvo models with at least 300 vehicles checked, the Volvo XC40 has the highest pass rate (90%) and the Volvo V50 the lowest (73%).

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