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Volvo V50 MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Volvo V50. Check any V50 by registration number below.

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62.4%

Avg Pass Rate

-25.3%

vs Volvo Avg

10

Year Ranges

Below Average

Reliability

Volvo V50 — MOT Reliability Overview

The Volvo V50 has an average MOT pass rate of 62.4%, which is 25.3 percentage points below the Volvo brand average of 87.7%. This suggests the V50 can be more maintenance-intensive than average. Pay close attention to the common failure points listed below if you are considering buying one.

The most common reasons a Volvo V50 fails its MOT are a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement. If you are preparing your V50 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 V50, 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 V50 performs at MOT across different model years.

2012

Based on 7,877 vehicles

66.6%Average
Volvo average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

10.0%

Retest Rate

32.8%

Mileage at 10yr

174k mi

2011

Based on 10,378 vehicles

62.8%Below Average
Volvo average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

11.5%

Retest Rate

36.6%

2010

Based on 11,689 vehicles

63.3%Below Average
Volvo average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

10.8%

Retest Rate

35.5%

2009

Based on 11,684 vehicles

62.5%Below Average
Volvo average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

10.2%

Retest Rate

33.8%

2008

Based on 13,723 vehicles

60.2%Below Average
Volvo average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

9.4%

Retest Rate

35.7%

2007

Based on 7,497 vehicles

61.2%Below Average
Volvo average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

9.4%

Retest Rate

35.2%

2006

Based on 7,193 vehicles

59.3%Below Average
Volvo average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

10.2%

Retest Rate

38.2%

2005

Based on 5,421 vehicles

58.4%Below Average
Volvo average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

9.1%

Retest Rate

36.5%

2004

Based on 2,317 vehicles

59.1%Below Average
Volvo average: 87.7%
Dangerous Defects

8.7%

Retest Rate

36.7%

0

Based on 46,001 vehicles

70.9%Average
Volvo average: 87.7%
Mileage at 5yr

129k mi

Top MOT Failures — Volvo V50

The most common reasons a Volvo V50 fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

1

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

3.7%
2

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

3.7%
3

Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement

2.8%
4

A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened

2.8%
5

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

2.6%

Where Failures Occur

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

Front Nearside

6.6%

Front Offside

5.9%

Rear Offside

5.3%

Volvo V50 — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Volvo V50 MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Volvo V50?
The average MOT pass rate for the Volvo V50 is 62.4% compared to the Volvo average of 87.7%. 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 V50?
The most common MOT failures on the Volvo V50 are: A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (3.7%), A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (3.7%), Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement (2.8%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.
Is the Volvo V50 reliable?
With an average MOT pass rate of 62.4%, the Volvo V50 is rated as "Below Average" for reliability. This is around average — regular maintenance is recommended to avoid common failure points.
How do I check the MOT history of a Volvo V50?
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 V50?
Typical mileage for the Volvo V50: 174,400 miles at 10 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used V50 to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Volvo V50's MOT History

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

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