Petrol Volvo C30: MOT pass rate

66.9% of petrol Volvo C30s pass the MOT first time, measured across 9,437 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 93,245.

Petrol against the other Volvo C30 versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.

On the Volvo C30 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 66.9%, and this petrol version sits 1.4 points above the 65.5% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The petrol Volvo C30 is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. 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 petrol Volvo C30 had covered 93,245 miles at test, against 110,770 for the diesel. That is above average, the point where suspension bushes, drop links and exhaust corrosion start showing up as advisories before they become failures.

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 petrol Volvo C30

1. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 2.9% of tests (4.92x the national rate for this defect)
2. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.6% of tests (3.5x 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, 3.1% of tests (3.48x the national rate for this defect)
4. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 2.6% of tests (2.6x the national rate for this defect)
5. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 4.9% of tests (2.19x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 10.7% of tests (2.14x the national rate for this defect)
7. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.6% of tests (2.14x the national rate for this defect)
8. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 4.6% of tests (2.02x the national rate for this defect)
9. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 2.2% of tests (1.76x the national rate for this defect)
10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.9% of tests (1.71x the national rate for this defect)

From 9,488 DVSA-tracked petrol Volvo C30 tests, 2024, split out from the Volvo C30's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 5.59% 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 petrol Volvo C30

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

1. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 11% of tests (3.87x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 4.9% of tests (3.6x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 2.2% of tests (2.63x the national rate for this defect)
4. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 9.2% of tests (1.96x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 24.9% of tests (1.86x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 9.5% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this defect)
7. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 2.2% of tests (1.74x 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, 8.2% of tests (1.48x the national rate for this defect)
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 33.7% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this defect)
10. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.1% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this defect)

From 9,488 DVSA-tracked petrol Volvo C30 tests, 2024.

Other Volvo C30 fuel types

• Diesel Volvo C30 - 64.5%

All Volvo C30 MOT data · Every model