Volvo S90 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Volvo S90 car check
Is the Volvo S90 reliable? We analysed 42,777 real MOT tests across 6,662 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Volvo S90? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Volvo S90 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, parking brake recording little or no effort and suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volvo S90.
Volvo S90 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Volvo S90. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Volvo S90 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Volvo S90 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Volvo S90 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Volvo S90 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Volvo S90 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Volvo S90 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Volvo S90 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Volvo S90 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Volvo S90 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volvo S90 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 8,484 | 89.3% | 29,486 | 43,553 | 64,336 |
| 2018 | 15,444 | 89.6% | 33,034 | 49,744 | 70,826 |
| 2017 | 10,385 | 88.7% | 34,930 | 54,013 | 77,866 |
| 2016 | 2,425 | 86.8% | 34,494 | 54,788 | 81,216 |
| 1998 | 1,052 | 66.4% | 83,386 | 116,504 | 149,426 |
| 1997 | 4,342 | 72.1% | 78,572 | 105,832 | 138,033 |
How Long Does a Volvo S90 Last?
Based on 6,662 Volvo S90 vehicles on UK roads.
Volvo S90 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Volvo S90 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Volvo S90
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.6% MOT pass rate from 15,444 tests
66.4% MOT pass rate from 1,052 tests
The best year to buy a used Volvo S90 is 2018, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.6% across 15,444 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Volvo S90 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo S90 THIS CAR | 86.7% | 42,777 | 54,530 mi | 29 yrs |
| Volvo V70 | 71% | 1,930,508 | 113,181 mi | 29 yrs |
| Volvo V40 | 73.7% | 1,865,374 | 76,415 mi | 30 yrs |
| Volvo S40 | 69.9% | 1,390,271 | 84,701 mi | 30 yrs |
| Ford Transit Custom 300LEADER Eblue | 80% | 56,963 | 59,696 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Volvo V70 (71.0% pass rate) and the Volvo V40 (73.7% pass rate), the Volvo S90 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Volvo S90 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Volvo S90Should you buy a used Volvo S90?
The Volvo S90 has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.7% across 42,777 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Volvo S90 are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (363 recorded failures), parking brake recording little or no effort (204), and suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (175). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Volvo S90 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Volvo S90 owner drives around 8,529 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Volvo S90 models stay on UK roads for around 29 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.