Volvo S90 MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Volvo S90. Check any S90 by registration number below.

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81.9%

Avg Pass Rate

-2.4%

vs Volvo Avg

Year Ranges

Good

Reliability

Volvo S90 — MOT Reliability Overview

The Volvo S90 has an average MOT pass rate of 81.9%, which is 2.4 percentage points below the Volvo brand average of 84.3%. This is a strong result, indicating that the S90 is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

The most common reasons a Volvo S90 fails its MOT are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. If you are preparing your S90 for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Volvo S90, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Volvo S90 performs at MOT across different model years.

2019

Based on 4,610 vehicles

90.6%Excellent

Volvo average: 84.3%

Dangerous Defects

4.1%

Retest Rate

8.4%

Mileage at 3yr

70k mi

Mileage at 5yr

83k mi

2018

Based on 6,804 vehicles

89.8%Excellent

Volvo average: 84.3%

Dangerous Defects

4.5%

Retest Rate

11.0%

Mileage at 5yr

88k mi

2017

Based on 3,744 vehicles

88.2%Excellent

Volvo average: 84.3%

Dangerous Defects

4.4%

Retest Rate

14.0%

Mileage at 5yr

98k mi

2016

Based on 779 vehicles

85.1%Excellent

Volvo average: 84.3%

Dangerous Defects

4.9%

Retest Rate

14.7%

1998

Based on 44 vehicles

59.1%Below Average

Volvo average: 84.3%

Dangerous Defects

3.0%

Retest Rate

27.3%

1997

Based on 199 vehicles

78.9%Good

Volvo average: 84.3%

Dangerous Defects

1.5%

Retest Rate

16.1%

Top MOT Failures — Volvo S90

The most common reasons a Volvo S90 fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

5.0%

A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play

1.9%

A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

1.8%

a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm

1.7%

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

1.3%

Volvo S90 Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Front Nearside

1.5%

Front Offside

1.1%

Rear Offside

1.0%

Other Volvo Models

Compare MOT reliability across Volvo models.

Volvo V60 Momentum + D3 Auto

86.8% pass rate

Volvo V60

82.5% pass rate

Volvo S40

68.3% pass rate

Volvo XC90 Inscription B5 AWD Auto

90.6% pass rate

Volvo S60

69.7% pass rate

Volvo V60 Inscription + D4 Auto

84.5% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for Volvo S90

Volvo S90 — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Volvo S90 MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Volvo S90?

The average MOT pass rate for the Volvo S90 is 81.9% compared to the Volvo average of 84.3%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

What are the most common MOT failures on a Volvo S90?

The most common MOT failures on the Volvo S90 are: A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (5.0%), A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play (1.9%), A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (1.8%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the Volvo S90 reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 81.9%, the Volvo S90 is rated as "Good" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a Volvo S90?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a Volvo S90?

Typical mileage for the Volvo S90: 69,884 miles at 3 years, 83,351 miles at 5 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used S90 to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Volvo S90's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.