Volvo C30 MOT Pass Rate
The Volvo C30 has an MOT pass rate of 75%, compared with a UK average of 79.1%, based on 6,480 DVSA MOT tests from 2004 to March 2026. It ranks 326th of 386 cars we track by pass rate.
The most common MOT problem area on the Volvo C30 is tyres, at 25.9% of all defects and advisories recorded.
Allowing for age, the weakest Volvo C30 years are 2008 and 2010, which fail more often than the average car registered in the same year.
Data: DVSA MOT test results, 2004 to March 2026. Last updated 3 October 2026.
- Volvo C30 MOT pass rate
- 75%
- UK average pass rate
- 79.1%
- MOT tests analysed
- 6,480
Ranked 326 of 386 models by MOT pass rate (1 is the highest).
What the Volvo C30 fails on
Every defect and advisory recorded at MOT, grouped by area. Includes advisories as well as failure items.
| Area | Share of all items | Items per 100 tests | Items recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 25.9% | 53.2 | 3,447 |
| Brakes | 18.7% | 38.3 | 2,485 |
| Suspension | 18.3% | 37.6 | 2,435 |
| Lights and signalling | 16.3% | 33.6 | 2,176 |
| Other items | 5.9% | 12.2 | 788 |
| Windscreen and wipers | 3.5% | 7.2 | 464 |
| Bodywork | 2.8% | 5.7 | 367 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 2.4% | 4.9 | 318 |
| Corrosion | 2% | 4 | 262 |
| Fuel system | 1.8% | 3.8 | 245 |
| Steering | 1.5% | 3.1 | 204 |
| Electrical | 0.4% | 0.9 | 56 |
| Structure | 0.3% | 0.6 | 39 |
| Drivetrain | 0.2% | 0.4 | 29 |
Fail rate by mileage
How the Volvo C30 holds up as the miles build, using the odometer reading at each test.
| Mileage at test | C30 fail rate | UK fail rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 miles | 14.9% | 13.1% | 1,571 |
| 40,000 to 79,999 miles | 23.5% | 21.7% | 2,525 |
| 80,000 to 119,999 miles | 31.9% | 28.3% | 1,658 |
| 120,000 miles or more | 36.6% | 31.4% | 724 |
Which years to avoid
Fail rate by year first registered, next to the UK fail rate for all cars registered that year. Older cars fail more often whatever the model, so compare each year with its own UK figure.
| Year | C30 fail rate | UK fail rate, same year | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 21.3% | 25.2% | 628 |
| 2008 | 28.2% | 25.3% | 1,032 |
| 2009 | 24.4% | 24.9% | 1,394 |
| 2010 | 26.6% | 24.5% | 1,565 |
| 2011 | 23.4% | 23.4% | 843 |
| 2012 | 23.8% | 22.6% | 764 |
| 2013 | 24.4% | 21.6% | 254 |
Years with fewer than 50 tests, and cars too new to have reached their first MOT, are left out.
Volvo C30 MOT questions
Is the Volvo C30 reliable?
On MOT results the Volvo C30 is worse than average: it passes 75% of tests against a UK average of 79.1%, ranking 326th of 386 cars we track. Allowing for the age of the cars tested, its fail rate of 25% is 0.7 percentage points higher than the 24.3% you would expect from the average car of the same registration years. A pass rate is one useful signal of how well a model holds up, but it does not capture breakdowns between tests, repair costs or how an individual car has been looked after, so always check the history of the specific car.
What does the Volvo C30 usually fail its MOT on?
Across 6,480 MOT tests, the areas most often flagged on the Volvo C30 were tyres (25.9%), brakes (18.7%) and suspension (18.3%), shown as a share of all defects and advisories recorded. These counts include advisories as well as failure items, so they show where problems tend to appear rather than only what caused a fail.
Which Volvo C30 years should I avoid?
Comparing each year with the average car of the same age, the weakest years of the Volvo C30 were 2008 (28.2% fail rate against 25.3% for all cars first registered that year, 1,032 tests) and 2010 (26.6% fail rate against 24.5% for all cars first registered that year, 1,565 tests). Older cars fail more often whatever the model, which is why each year is compared with its own age group. Only years with at least 1,000 tests are included.
Does the Volvo C30 get worse with mileage?
Yes. The Volvo C30 fails 14.9% of MOT tests taken at under 40,000 miles and 36.6% at 120,000 miles or more, based on 1,571 and 724 tests respectively. Across all models the equivalent figures are 13.1% and 31.4%.
How does the Volvo C30 compare with the national average?
The Volvo C30 passes 75% of MOT tests, 4.1 percentage points below the UK average of 79.1% across all 6,681,613 tests in the data. That places it 326th of 386 cars with at least 1,000 tests, where 1st has the highest pass rate.
Check a specific Volvo C30
See the full MOT history of the exact car you're looking at, free.
Related reading
What Does 'Brake Disc Worn' Mean on an MOT? Serious or Not?
Brake Disc Worn: Repair Cost and How Urgent Is It
Repeated Brake Disc Worn Advisory: Should You Walk Away?
What Does 'Suspension Arm Bush Worn' Mean on an MOT? Serious or Not?
Suspension Arm Bush Worn: Repair Cost and How Urgent Is It
Repeated Suspension Arm Bush Worn Advisory: Should You Walk Away?
What Does 'Rear Suspension Bush Worn' Mean on an MOT? Serious or Not?
Rear Suspension Bush Worn: Repair Cost and How Urgent Is It
Other Volvo models
Data: DVSA MOT test results for Great Britain, 2004 to March 2026, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures cover 6,480 tests. Last updated 3 October 2026. How these figures are calculated.
How to cite this data: Source: CarBuyerIQ analysis of DVSA MOT test data, https://www.carbuyeriq.com/mot-pass-rates/volvo/c30