Volvo XC90 Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Volvo XC90 fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 114,227 MOT tests across 18 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: premium | Fuel: Diesel hybrid, Hybrid, Electric, Diesel, Petrol
81%
Volvo XC90 pass rate
87%
Volvo average
82%
All-model average
The Volvo XC90 has an average MOT pass rate of 81%, which is 6 points below the Volvo average and 1 point below the average across all models in our data. Newer Volvo XC90s pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 11 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Volvo XC90 Fails Its MOT On
Of the 15,424 MOT tests on the Volvo XC90 that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
41%Cars and vans the same age: 41% · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
40%Cars and vans the same age: 24% (the XC90 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£450
Suspension
23%Cars and vans the same age: 35% (the XC90 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Tyres
23%Cars and vans the same age: 21% · Typical repair £50-£300
Steering
10%Cars and vans the same age: 7.6% · Typical repair £100-£500
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Position lamp: not working (18% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Tyre tread depth below the 1.6mm limit (8.3% of failed tests, tyres)
- Parking brake efficiency below requirements (decelerometer test) (7.3% of failed tests, brakes)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Volvo XC90 Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each XC90 year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Volvo XC90 Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Hybrid | 2.0L | 91% | 9% | 92% (-1) |
| 2019 | Hybrid | 2.0L | 90% | 10% | 91% (-1) |
| 2018 | Electric | 0.0L | 89% | 10% | 89% (0) |
| 2017 | Hybrid | 2.0L | 88% | 11% | 87% (+1) |
| 2016 | Diesel | 2.0L | 86% | 13% | 86% (0) |
| 2015 | Diesel | 2.0L | 85% | 15% | 84% (+1) |
| 2014 | Diesel | 2.4L | 81% | 18% | 82% (-1) |
| 2013 | Diesel | 2.4L | 81% | 19% | 80% (+1) |
| 2012 | Petrol | 3.2L | 82% | 18% | 79% (+3) |
| 2011 | Petrol | 2.4L | 78% | 21% | 77% (+1) |
| 2010 | Diesel | 2.4L | 77% | 22% | 75% (+2) |
| 2009 | Petrol | 4.4L | 78% | 22% | 75% (+3) |
| 2008 | Diesel | 2.4L | 76% | 23% | 74% (+2) |
| 2007 | Petrol | 2.4L | 73% | 26% | 73% (0) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 4.4L | 73% | 26% | 73% (0) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 2.9L | 73% | 26% | 73% (0) |
| 2004 | Diesel | 2.4L | 72% | 27% | 72% (0) |
| 2003 | Diesel | 2.4L | 72% | 28% | 72% (0) |
Volvo XC90 Running Costs
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Volvo XC90 FAQ
What are the most common Volvo XC90 problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Volvo XC90 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (41% of the 15,424 failed tests), brakes (40%) and suspension (23%). The single most common fault was "Position lamp: not working" (18%). Across 114,227 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 81% ended in a pass.
Is the Volvo XC90 reliable?
The Volvo XC90 has an average MOT pass rate of 81%, from 114,227 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 1 point of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Volvo XC90 years should I avoid?
No Volvo XC90 year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). The years that passed most often for their age were the 2009 (78% of 6,349 tests passed, against 75% for all 2009 cars) and the 2012 (82% of 5,327 tests passed, against 79% for all 2012 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Volvo XC90 faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Volvo XC90 typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Volvo Models
Common problems pages for other Volvo models