Diesel Volvo S90: MOT pass rate

87.4% of diesel Volvo S90s pass the MOT first time, measured across 5,138 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 68,571.

Diesel against the other Volvo S90 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 S90 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 88.4%, and this diesel version sits 0.2 points below the 87.6% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. 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 S90 had covered 68,571 miles at test, against 49,161 for the petrol. That is a shade above the middle of the range, still ordinary wear rather than a red flag, but worth checking against the service book for the car's age.

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 S90 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Volvo S90

1. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 4.2% of tests (1.95x the national rate for this defect)
2. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.1% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this defect)
3. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.3% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this defect)
4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.9% of tests
5. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 0.9% of tests
6. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 0.9% of tests
7. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 0.9% of tests
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.5% of tests
9. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.5% of tests
10. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 0.4% of tests

From 5,144 DVSA-tracked diesel Volvo S90 tests, 2024, split out from the Volvo S90's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 11.17% 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 S90

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

1. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 2.9% of tests (2.17x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 17.6% of tests (1.89x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 4.6% of tests (1.45x the national rate for this defect)
4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 27.9% of tests, also fails
5. A tyre seriously damaged, 9.9% of tests, also fails
6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 5.6% of tests
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.6% of tests, also fails
8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 1.9% of tests
9. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.3% of tests
10. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.9% of tests

From 5,144 DVSA-tracked diesel Volvo S90 tests, 2024.

Other Volvo S90 fuel types

• Petrol Volvo S90 - 88.4%

All Volvo S90 MOT data · Every model