Petrol Volvo Xc90: MOT pass rate

80% of petrol Volvo Xc90s pass the MOT first time, measured across 4,560 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 75,844.

Petrol against the other Volvo Xc90 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 Xc90 specifically, hybrid is the strongest at 84.9%, and this petrol version sits 4.3 points above the 75.7% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

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

Most common MOT failures on a petrol Volvo Xc90

1. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 0.9% of tests (4.28x the national rate for this defect)
2. Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value, 1.5% of tests (4.09x the national rate for this defect)
3. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 3.9% of tests (1.81x the national rate for this defect)
4. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2.3% of tests (1.74x 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, 3% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this defect)
6. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.5% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this defect)
7. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.6% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this defect)
8. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.1% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.7% of tests
10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.3% of tests

From 4,598 DVSA-tracked petrol Volvo Xc90 tests, 2024, split out from the Volvo Xc90's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 6.29% 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 Xc90

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

1. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 3.5% of tests (3.2x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 1.4% of tests (2.56x the national rate for this defect)
3. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 2.3% of tests (1.74x the national rate for this defect)
4. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.4% of tests (1.67x the national rate for this defect)
5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 13.9% of tests (1.48x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. A tyre seriously damaged, 21.3% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 4.4% of tests (1.37x the national rate for this defect)
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 17.3% of tests (1.3x the national rate for this defect), also fails
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 23.4% of tests, also fails
10. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 10.1% of tests

From 4,598 DVSA-tracked petrol Volvo Xc90 tests, 2024.

Other Volvo Xc90 fuel types

• Diesel Volvo Xc90 - 74.2%
• Hybrid Volvo Xc90 - 84.9%

All Volvo Xc90 MOT data · Every model