Diesel Volvo V50: MOT pass rate

60.4% of diesel Volvo V50s pass the MOT first time, measured across 23,930 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 135,869.

Diesel against the other Volvo V50 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 V50 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 62.6%, and this diesel version sits 0.4 points below the 60.8% 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 V50 had covered 135,869 miles at test, against 112,753 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 V50 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Volvo V50

1. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 7.9% of tests (5.14x the national rate for this defect)
2. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 2.4% of tests (4x the national rate for this defect)
3. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.7% of tests (3.59x the national rate for this defect)
4. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 5.6% of tests (3.36x the national rate for this defect)
5. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 6.7% of tests (2.96x the national rate for this defect)
6. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 5.9% of tests (2.65x the national rate for this defect)
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 12.6% of tests (2.5x the national rate for this defect)
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 5.1% of tests (2.16x the national rate for this defect)
9. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2.6% of tests (1.98x the national rate for this defect)
10. 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)

From 24,027 DVSA-tracked diesel Volvo V50 tests, 2024, split out from the Volvo V50's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 6.42% 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 V50

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

1. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 3.9% of tests (3.7x the national rate for this defect)
2. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 4.8% of tests (3.52x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 2.8% of tests (3.34x the national rate for this defect)
4. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 11% of tests (2.32x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 11.3% of tests (2.19x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 28.5% of tests (2.13x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 5.4% of tests (1.89x 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, 9.4% of tests (1.68x the national rate for this defect)
9. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.3% of tests (1.61x the national rate for this defect)
10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 42.7% of tests (1.6x the national rate for this defect)

From 24,027 DVSA-tracked diesel Volvo V50 tests, 2024.

Other Volvo V50 fuel types

• Petrol Volvo V50 - 62.6%

All Volvo V50 MOT data · Every model