Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Volvo S90?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2018 Volvo S90?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2018 Volvo S90?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2018 Volvo S90 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

27% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2018 Volvo S90 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,584 vehicles, the 2018 Volvo S90 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Volvo S90?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Volvo S90 are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (37% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (36.1% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (32.7% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2018 Volvo S90?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Volvo S90 (2018)

2,584 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.2% first-time pass rate

2018 Volvo S90

CarHunch analysed 2,584 real MOT records for the 2018 Volvo S90. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2018 Volvo S90 passes its MOT first time in 87.6% of cases, a solid 7.6 percentage points above the UK average—but the concerning detail is that 27.2% of these cars have recorded at least one dangerous defect, well above the typical threshold for buyer concern. This suggests underlying issues that can catch owners off guard despite the strong headline pass rate.

These vehicles are running at a median of 49,735 miles, which is reasonable for their age, yet they're averaging 0.56 failures and 4.8 advisories per test, pointing to wear-related problems accumulating steadily. Before committing to a used S90, have a pre-purchase inspection specifically focus on the systems flagged most often in MOT records—suspension, braking, and emissions components are the usual culprits on premium Volvos at this mileage.

The 2018 Volvo S90 has a decent first-time pass rate (91.2%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

91.2%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

27.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.56

Over 5.5 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

50k

Middle half: 39k–65k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 91.2% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 4.8 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 2,584 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,584 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 37%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 32.7%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 9.9%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Oil leak, but not excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,584 Volvo S90 cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Volvo S90

Based on MOT data from 2,584 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 27.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (94%)	2,435	91.1%	0.57
Petrol (4%)	92	93.7%	0.42
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (2%)	57	91.9%	0.53

Colour Breakdown

Based on 6,412 Volvo S90 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 27%

1,730

Black 24.2%

1,552

Blue 20.5%

1,313

Silver 17.9%

1,148

White 6.2%

396

Gold 1%

Red 1%

Purple 0.8%

Green 0.8%

Bronze 0.3%

Maroon 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Volvo S90 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

49,735

typical

38,739

low mileage

65,279

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Volvo S90 vehicles fall between 38,739 and 65,279 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 38,739 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 38,739–65,279 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Volvo S90s sit.

⚠ Over 88,126 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Volvo S90 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Volvo S90s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 2,306 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 97% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

5.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.56

Avg failures per vehicle

4.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Volvo S90: All S90 years → Which year to buy? →

1997 2016 2017 2019

Or browse all models: Volvo →

Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Volvo S90 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing