Volvo V90 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Volvo V90 car check
Is the Volvo V90 reliable? We analysed 76,185 real MOT tests across 11,167 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Volvo V90? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Volvo V90 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement and parking brake recording little or no effort. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volvo V90.
Volvo V90 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Volvo V90. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Volvo V90 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Volvo V90 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Volvo V90 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Volvo V90 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Volvo V90 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Volvo V90 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Volvo V90 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Volvo V90 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Volvo V90 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volvo V90 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 241 | 87.1% | 24,030 | 38,440 | 55,244 |
| 2019 | 13,081 | 86.7% | 30,223 | 44,158 | 62,969 |
| 2018 | 24,621 | 87.3% | 34,335 | 50,122 | 70,226 |
| 2017 | 22,345 | 87.6% | 39,825 | 58,714 | 82,538 |
| 2016 | 3,719 | 84.9% | 39,985 | 60,083 | 88,585 |
| 2001 | 119 | 71.4% | 72,972 | 91,019 | 121,863 |
| 2000 | 55 | 70.9% | 81,267 | 144,479 | 159,448 |
| 1999 | 93 | 78.5% | 88,772 | 101,707 | 115,818 |
| 1998 | 3,093 | 68.2% | 97,725 | 129,123 | 165,301 |
| 1997 | 7,979 | 68.5% | 100,956 | 132,104 | 164,423 |
How Long Does a Volvo V90 Last?
Based on 11,167 Volvo V90 vehicles on UK roads.
Volvo V90 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Volvo V90 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 V90
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
87.6% MOT pass rate from 22,345 tests
68.2% MOT pass rate from 3,093 tests
The best year to buy a used Volvo V90 is 2017, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.6% across 22,345 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 68.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Volvo V90 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo V90 THIS CAR | 84.3% | 76,185 | 58,460 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 |
| Renault Grand Modus | 73.2% | 72,470 | 51,714 mi | 18 yrs |
Compared to the Volvo V70 (71.0% pass rate) and the Volvo V40 (73.7% pass rate), the Volvo V90 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Volvo V90 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 V90Should you buy a used Volvo V90?
The Volvo V90 has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.3% across 76,185 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 V90 are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (783 recorded failures), suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (461), and parking brake recording little or no effort (429). 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 V90 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 V90 owner drives around 8,738 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 V90 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.