Volvo V90 (2018)

3,997 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.6% first-time pass rate

2018 Volvo V90

CarHunch analysed 3,997 real MOT records for the 2018 Volvo V90. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2018 Volvo V90 passes its MOT first time in 87.5% of cases, well above the UK average of 80%, which is a solid endorsement of reliability. However, nearly 28% have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is notably high and suggests buyers should budget for potential safety-critical repairs and request a full service history before purchase.

At 51,387 miles median, these cars are showing typical mileage for their age, so you're not looking at either garage queens or high-milers. The average car racks up 0.71 failures and 5.1 advisories per test, pointing to minor wear items rather than structural problems—check the last MOT report carefully for patterns in what's being flagged, particularly around suspension and brake components where advisory trends often signal upcoming costs.

Below average reliability 7.6% above UK average
87.6%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
51,387
typical mileage
40,300–64,795 middle half
28.1%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.71
avg MOT failures per car
over 5.7 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2018 Volvo V90

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 28.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Volvo V90

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (84%) 3,373 87.3% 0.72
Petrol (12%) 492 88.6% 0.64
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (3%) 132 89.1% 0.71

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Volvo V90 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

40,300
low mileage
51,387
typical
64,795
high mileage

Half of all 2018 Volvo V90 vehicles fall between 40,300 and 64,795 miles.

2018 Volvo V90 — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 3,802 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

3,767 3,802 2021 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.71
Avg failures per vehicle
5.1
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2018 Volvo V90

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 38.1%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 34.4%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 33.8%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 31.6%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 20.9%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 18.5%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 11.8%
    Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 11%
    Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Volvo V90?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Volvo V90:

1997 1998 2016 2017 2019