Diesel Volvo C30: MOT pass rate

64.5% of diesel Volvo C30s pass the MOT first time, measured across 13,251 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 110,770.

Diesel against the other Volvo C30 versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Volvo C30 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 66.9%, and this diesel version sits 1 points below the 65.5% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Volvo C30 fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Volvo C30 had covered 110,770 miles at test, against 93,245 for the petrol. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Volvo C30 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Volvo C30

1. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 2.7% of tests (4.53x the national rate for this defect)
2. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 6.9% of tests (4.47x the national rate for this defect)
3. A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, 3.4% of tests (3.84x the national rate for this defect)
4. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 6.6% of tests (2.98x the national rate for this defect)
5. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 4.7% of tests (2.81x the national rate for this defect)
6. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.9% of tests (2.61x the national rate for this defect)
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 10.6% of tests (2.11x the national rate for this defect)
8. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 4.4% of tests (1.95x the national rate for this defect)
9. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.9% of tests (1.87x the national rate for this defect)
10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.9% of tests (1.73x the national rate for this defect)

From 13,299 DVSA-tracked diesel Volvo C30 tests, 2024, split out from the Volvo C30's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 6.3% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Volvo C30

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 5.3% of tests (3.84x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 2.5% of tests (2.98x the national rate for this defect)
3. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 2.3% of tests (2.11x the national rate for this defect)
4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 27.5% of tests (2.06x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 9.3% of tests (1.97x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 8.1% of tests (1.56x the national rate for this defect)
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 39.2% of tests (1.47x the national rate for this defect)
8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 7.5% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this defect)
9. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2.5% of tests (1.27x the national rate for this defect), also fails
10. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 14.8% of tests (1.21x the national rate for this defect)

From 13,299 DVSA-tracked diesel Volvo C30 tests, 2024.

Other Volvo C30 fuel types

• Petrol Volvo C30 - 66.9%

All Volvo C30 MOT data · Every model