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Volvo XC90 - 2012

190.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2012 is 249.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volvo XC90, model year 2012. Sample size: 3,082 cars, 6,982 tests and 13,269 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 3,082 cars

The 2012 Volvo XC90 shows a lower overall defect rate, with 190 defects per 100 vehicles compared to the average of 246, marking a 22.8% improvement. Notably, the XC90 performs significantly better in several categories, including steering and body structure, where it has around 42% and 66% fewer defects, respectively, than the average car. Mileage-related trends indicate that defect rates increase with higher mileage, particularly in the 124,000+ miles category, where the XC90's defects rise sharply to 320 per 100 vehicles. Overall, this model stands out positively in key areas like visibility and lights, making it a reliable choice in its class.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 3,082 cars

Categories

Brakes
▲ 4.3% better
99.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 103.8 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
  • Parking brake efficiency: less than 50% of the required value
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
Steering
▲ 44.7% better
7.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.2 / 100 tests
  • Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▲ 29.7% better
13.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 100 tests
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 33.6% better
41.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.9 / 100 tests
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 19.9% better
195.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 244.4 / 100 tests
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▲ 68.3% better
8.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.2 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 0.0% better
6.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 6.2 / 100 tests
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt:
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
Other
▲ 63.6% better
8.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 23.6 / 100 tests
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions test unable to be completed
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 402 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,393
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,829
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,437
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 637
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 412
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 402
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 347
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 327
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 247
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 226

Serious faults (Top 10)

Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 327
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 223
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 216
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 212
Parking brake efficiency: less than 50% of the required value
FAIL
Occurrences: 210
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 128
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 94
ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 75
Parking brake inoperative on one side, or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight line
FAIL
Occurrences: 68
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 68