Diesel Volvo Xc90: MOT pass rate

74.2% of diesel Volvo Xc90s pass the MOT first time, measured across 48,357 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 113,816.

Diesel against the other Volvo Xc90 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 Xc90 specifically, hybrid is the strongest at 84.9%, and this diesel version sits 1.5 points below the 75.7% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Volvo Xc90 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 Xc90 had covered 113,816 miles at test, against 68,389 for the hybrid and 75,844 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 Xc90 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Volvo Xc90

1. Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value, 3.7% of tests (10.21x the national rate for this defect)
2. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 4.7% of tests (3.58x the national rate for this defect)
3. Warning device shows system malfunction, 1.4% of tests (3.43x 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, 5.5% of tests (2.47x the national rate for this defect)
5. Parking brake inoperative on one side, 1.5% of tests (2.46x the national rate for this defect)
6. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 1.3% of tests (2.11x the national rate for this defect)
7. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 2% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this defect)
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.4% of tests (1.47x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 6.4% of tests (1.28x the national rate for this defect)
10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 4% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this defect)

From 48,632 DVSA-tracked diesel Volvo Xc90 tests, 2024, split out from the Volvo Xc90's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 5.83% 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 Xc90

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, 3.6% of tests (2.72x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 2.6% of tests (2.37x the national rate for this defect)
3. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 29.6% of tests (2.21x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 2.5% of tests (1.84x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 9% of tests (1.73x the national rate for this defect)
6. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.8% of tests (1.42x the national rate for this defect)
7. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 15.7% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this defect)
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 33% of tests (1.24x the national rate for this defect), also fails
9. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3.9% of tests (1.22x the national rate for this defect)
10. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 5.6% of tests (1.19x the national rate for this defect)

From 48,632 DVSA-tracked diesel Volvo Xc90 tests, 2024.

Other Volvo Xc90 fuel types

• Hybrid Volvo Xc90 - 84.9%
• Petrol Volvo Xc90 - 80%

All Volvo Xc90 MOT data · Every model