Executive car · 1996–2021 cars
Volvo V90 reliability
The Volvo V90 fails 14.4% of first MOT tests, 18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 42,709 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Volvo V90 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 14.4%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 18% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 42,709
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 11,300
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Volvo V90 ages
Each point is the share of Volvo V90s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Volvo V90 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 13% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 13.6% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 14.6% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 15.5% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 17.9% | 22.1% |
By year
The best and worst Volvo V90 years
2017 cars come out best and 2019 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 377 | 7.7% | 48% fewer fails | 37,970 |
| 2020 V90 | 4,145 | 12.8% | 9% fewer fails | 36,438 |
| 2019 V90 | 12,097 | 14.5% | 5% fewer fails | 41,560 |
| 2018 V90 | 14,021 | 13.4% | 23% fewer fails | 50,411 |
| 2017 V90 | 10,139 | 15.2% | 26% fewer fails | 63,665 |
| 2016 V90 | 1,584 | 18% | 20% fewer fails | 68,515 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Volvo V90
Its weak spot is body, chassis and structure: 89% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Tyres6%7% above avg
- Brakes3.9%12% above avg
- Lights and electrics2.3%54% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure1.6%89% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors1.3%61% below avg
- Suspension1.1%58% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks0.4%66% below avg
- Steering0.4%6% below avg
- Wheels0.3%3% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 2.76% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 2
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 1.89% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 3
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.3% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.26% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 5
CV joint boot split or insecure 0.96% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 6
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 0.75% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 7
Tyre bulge from structural failure 0.51% of tests
A bulge means the tyre's structure has failed and it could burst suddenly, so it must be replaced at once.
- 8
Headlamp aim set too low 0.42% of tests
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Volvo V90's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit12.58%
- Brake pads wearing thin11.37%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking4.57%
- Child seat limits belt inspection2.24%
- Brake disc pitted or scored2.16%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit1.92%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Volvo V90
- 1
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 2
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 3
Tyre ply or cords exposed
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Volvo V90 covers about 11,300 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Diesel74.8%
- Petrol20.5%
- Hybrid3.4%
- Other1.2%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Grey, Blue, Black, Silver, White
Average engine size: 2.0 litres.
Compare
How the Volvo V90 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| BMW M3 | 12.5% | 62% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Lexus GS | 19.4% | 45% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| BMW M4 | 10.5% | 39% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Tesla Model S | 16.8% | 20% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volvo V90 | 14.4% | 18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jaguar S-Type | 37.2% | 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz CLC | 42.8% | 7% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every executive car ranked in the executive car reliability index, or all Volvo models.
Questions
Volvo V90 questions, answered
Is the Volvo V90 reliable?
On MOT results, the Volvo V90 is better than average: it fails 14.4% of first MOT tests, 18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 30 of 40 executive car models in our index.
What fails most on a Volvo V90 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Volvo V90 are brake pads worn below 1.5mm (2.76% of tests), tyre cut reaching ply or cords (1.89% of tests), tyre ply or cords exposed (1.3% of tests). By area, tyres fails 6% of its tests.
Which Volvo V90 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2017 cars do best (26% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2019 cars do worst (5% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Volvo V90 do a year?
A typical Volvo V90 covers about 11,300 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Volvo V90 before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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