Volvo V90 MOT Pass Rates and Running Costs by Year

Reliability, estimated running costs, and MOT data across 7 model years from 19,091 MOT tests in 2024.

Avg Pass Rate

86%

Total Tests

19,091

Highest Pass Rate

2020 (91%)

Years Covered

About the Volvo V90

The Volvo V90 was MOT tested 19,091 times in 2024 (DVSA data, retests included) across 7 model years (1997 to 2020), with an average pass rate of 86%. That's slightly above the average of 82% across all models in our data. Our records list petrol and diesel and lpg versions.

Best and Worst Years

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2020 model has the highest pass rate at 91% from 116 tests. The 1997 model has the lowest at 79%. The 12 point gap means pass rates vary somewhat between years, but no year is dramatically different. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger.

Reliability Trend

Newer Volvo V90s pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 7 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.

Mileage Across Years

The oldest model in our data (1997) averages 151,249 miles, while the newest (2020) averages 40,007 miles. Older models have covered serious mileage, so suspension and drivetrain wear are worth checking.

What the Volvo V90 fails its MOT on most

Of 1,756 MOT tests on the Volvo V90 that failed at the first attempt in 2025 (DVSA data), the share that failed on each area:

34%
Tyres
Same age: 29%
21%
Brakes
Same age: 20%
18%
Suspension
Same age: 21%

Volvo V90 reliability, common problems and years to avoid

Estimated Running Costs

Fuel (Diesel, 1969cc)

£1,397

Road Tax

£200

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

£200

Total per year£1,852

Per month£154/mo

Based on 7,400 miles/year, average pump prices of 174.57p petrol and 199.33p diesel (GOV.UK weekly road fuel prices, week of 19 October 2026), and MOT pass rate data. Insurance not included.

Full 2020 details

How reliable is the Volvo V90?

vs average of all models+4% (82% avg)

vs Volvo brand average-1% (87% avg)

Best to worst year spread12 percentage points

Reliability trendImproving over years

Volvo V90 by Year

Click any year to see detailed running costs, reliability data, and comparisons with similar cars.

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2020	91%	116	40,007 mi
2019	88%	4,722	54,202 mi
2018	89%	7,591	64,910 mi
2017	87%	5,466	78,494 mi
2016	85%	851	85,537 mi
1998	82%	108	143,771 mi
1997	79%	237	151,249 mi

Questions about the Volvo V90

Is the Volvo V90 reliable?

Across its 7 model years in our data (1997 to 2020), the Volvo V90 averages an 86% MOT pass rate, from 19,091 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 4 points above the average of 82% across all models in the same data. The 2020 model has the highest pass rate of the years with at least 100 tests, at 91%.

Which year Volvo V90 has the best MOT pass rate?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2020 Volvo V90 has the highest MOT pass rate at 91%, while the 1997 model has the lowest at 79%, a 12 point gap. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger, so compare years of a similar age.