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ST53 ALU

2003 Volvo XC90

Silver Diesel 2401cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires31 Jan 2027
Tests38 (21 pass, 17 fail)
Pass rate55.3%

Mileage

161,634 mi
Last recorded161,634 miles
Recorded on27 Jan 2026
Typical for 2003 Volvo XC90102,129 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Volvo
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationST53 ALU
MakeVolvo
ModelXC90
Year2003
ColourSilver
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,401cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

21 pass 17 fail
Pass 27 Jan 2026 161,634 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Fail 24 Jan 2026 161,630 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp lens seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp lens seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 26 Jan 2025 155,444 miles

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play BOTH SIDE (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement BOTH SIDE (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 20 Jan 2025 155,428 miles

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Centre (6.1.2 (a))

Front Headlamps not clear.

Nearside Rear Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated small split (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play Both (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement foremost, both separated (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 7 Jan 2025 155,390 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded Union/ferrule weak (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment (2.1.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Centre (6.1.2 (a))

Front Headlamps not clear.

Nearside Rear Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated small split (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play Both (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement foremost, both separated (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 26 Jan 2024 143,017 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Cat to middle joint (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Side repeater slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated Has a pin hole in it (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Side repeater slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Parking brake only just meets requirements

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Fail 16 Jan 2024 142,687 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Central Rear Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Nearside Rear Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 23 Jan 2023 129,888 miles

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Rear Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Fail 16 Jan 2023 129,860 miles

Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Rear Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 22 Jan 2022 122,015 miles

Nearside Rear Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Front Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 8 Jan 2021 115,209 miles

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 24 Jan 2020 108,595 miles

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 8 Jan 2020 108,498 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 1 Feb 2019 101,046 miles

Rear subframe advanced corrosion

Fail 31 Jan 2019 101,034 miles

Offside Power steering pipe/hose leaking (2.1.5 (a))

Power steering fluid level below minimum (2.1.5 (b) (i))

Rear subframe advanced corrosion

Pass 9 Feb 2018 92,073 miles
Pass 2 Mar 2017 83,585 miles
Fail 2 Mar 2017 83,585 miles

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

Pass 31 Aug 2016 80,441 miles
Fail 23 Aug 2016 80,441 miles

Offside Obligatory mirror insecure (8.1.1)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

Pass 14 Aug 2015 73,970 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Fail 14 Aug 2015 73,970 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 27 Aug 2014 67,314 miles
Fail 26 Aug 2014 67,314 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1b)

Pass 2 Oct 2013 64,278 miles
Fail 1 Oct 2013 64,276 miles

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 5 Oct 2012 57,150 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Fail 3 Oct 2012 57,114 miles

Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-lock braking system component excessively damaged (3.4.2)

Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.D.4)

Air bag service light on dash

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside front track rod slight play BORDERLINE

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

rear wiper torn

Pass 6 Oct 2011 49,661 miles
Fail 4 Oct 2011 49,661 miles

Nearside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Fail 19 Sep 2011 49,469 miles

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

Pass 15 Sep 2010 44,493 miles
Fail 15 Sep 2010 44,489 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

Pass 17 Sep 2009 36,622 miles

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 25 Sep 2008 28,807 miles
Pass 11 Sep 2007 21,477 miles
Fail 10 Sep 2007 21,475 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

rear brake discs very badly corroded-advise

Pass 26 Sep 2006 12,344 miles

n/s rear antiroll bar link slight wear

How Reliable is the Volvo XC90?

Based on 1,122,947 MOT tests across 82,375 vehicles.

74.6%
Pass Rate
8,281
Miles/Year
23
Year Lifespan
82,375
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 23,030
position lamp(s) not working 22,417
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 21,465
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 16,860
Registration plate lamp not working 14,842
Full Volvo XC90 reliability report

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Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

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ST53 ALU is a 2003 Volvo XC90 in Silver with a 2,401cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 38 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 55.3%.

Across all 2003 Volvo XC90 models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.7% with a typical mileage of 102,129 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Volvo XC90 fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 23,030 recorded failures. If you're considering buying ST53 ALU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volvo XC90 typically stays on UK roads for around 23 years. At 23 years old, this Volvo XC90 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of ST53 ALU?

You can check the full history of ST53 ALU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was ST53 ALU registered?

ST53 ALU is a 2003 Volvo XC90, first registered on 30 September 2003.

Is ST53 ALU safe to buy?

The MOT history for ST53 ALU shows 38 tests with a 55.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does ST53 ALU have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on ST53 ALU. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.