2011 Volvo XC90 MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 64.2% of Volvo XC90s first used in 2011 passed their MOT first time, against 61.2% for all cars first used in 2011. Across 12,631 XC90 first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, brakes and tyres.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Volvo XC90s first used in 2011 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
64.2%
of 4,090 first tests; all cars first used in 2011: 61.2%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
12,631
first tests, 2023–2025; 4,090 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
26.5%
of 4,090 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
129,000
middle half: 106,000–153,500 miles; all cars first used in 2011: 98,000

How the 2011 Volvo XC90 MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, XC90s first used in 2011 against all cars first used in 2011 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the XC90 figure was 3.0 points higher.

2011 XC90All cars first used in 2011
60%70%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2011, test year 2021: 65.8%All cars first used in 2011, test year 2022: 64.5%All cars first used in 2011, test year 2023: 63%All cars first used in 2011, test year 2024: 61.8%All cars first used in 2011, test year 2025: 61.2%2011 XC90, test year 2021: 64.6%2011 XC90, test year 2022: 63.2%2011 XC90, test year 2023: 65.8%2011 XC90, test year 2024: 61.7%2011 XC90, test year 2025: 64.2%64.2%61.2%
View this chart as a table
Test year2011 XC90All cars first used 2011XC90 first tests
202164.6%65.8%4,426
202263.2%64.5%4,397
202365.8%63.0%4,327
202461.7%61.8%4,214
202564.2%61.2%4,090

Common 2011 Volvo XC90 MOT failures

Share of the 4,559 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment56.0%
Brakes44.9%
Tyres18.5%
Suspension14.8%
Visibility10.6%
Body, chassis, structure6.0%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems3.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks2.8%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Position lamp: not working29.7%1,356
Parking brake efficiency (sp): efficiency below requirements10.7%489
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm9.5%433
Parking brake efficiency (sp): efficiency below requirements7.4%339
Individual direction indicators: incorrect colour7.3%333

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2011 Volvo XC90 before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
  3. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.

Common 2011 Volvo XC90 MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2011 XC90s, as a share of all 12,631 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge20.5%2,584
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened14.1%1,780
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement13.6%1,714
Play in steering rack inner joint(s)6.9%871
Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened6.2%779

Questions about the 2011 Volvo XC90 MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2011 Volvo XC90?

In 2025, 64.2% of XC90s first used in 2011 passed their MOT first time, against 61.2% for all cars first used in 2011. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2011 XC90 most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 56.0% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), brakes (44.9%) and tyres (18.5%). The single most common item was “Position lamp: not working” (29.7%).

How often does a 2011 Volvo XC90 fail its MOT?

In 2025, 35.8% of first tests on XC90s first used in 2011 did not pass first time: 28.2% failed, and a further 7.5% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 4,559 of 12,631 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2011 Volvo XC90 MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 20.5% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (14.1%), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (13.6%), “Play in steering rack inner joint(s)” (6.9%) and “Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened” (6.2%).

Is a 2011 Volvo XC90 reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 64.6% in 2021 to 64.2% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2011

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2011 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2011 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2011 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2011 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2011 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics

How the 2011 Volvo XC90 MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2011 XC90” means a Volvo XC90 whose date of first use falls in 2011 (60, 11 and 61 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2011, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.