Volvo
2,068 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Unclassifieds pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 6.4 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
84.0%
Pass-after-fix
1.9%
Fail
13.3%
Avg miles
131,024
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Some examples of this model are borderline — a small number of diesels were certified Euro 6 before September 2015. Check your registration on the government's ULEZ checker to be certain. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 · Bristol £9.00 .
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 2,023 tests
Pass rate climbs 13.1 points across the cohorts — newer Unclassified examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
82.9%
Fail
14.2%
PRS
2.0%
Avg mileage at test
143,255 mi
Pass
96.0%
Fail
4.0%
PRS
0.0%
Avg mileage at test
30,537 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 988 MOT tests, the Unclassified returns 77.8% first-time pass — roughly in line with the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a weak handbrake. A defective headlamp lens and a number-plate lamp out round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 116,841, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
22–44
out of 50
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Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced
38 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
26 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
22 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
20 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
19 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
18 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
17 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
17 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
Service brake efficiency below minimum requirement
16 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
16 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£18–£115
If every one of this Unclassified's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 13.1-point gap between bands means the year you buy Volvo Unclassified has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.
Best band to buy
96.0%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 96.0% — a 13.1-point improvement. Tests in this band average 30,537 miles — roughly 113K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, less than 1.5 mm thick — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. The stricter post-2018 MOT test rules meant manufacturers had to tighten up emissions and electrical checks, but this band still shows far fewer major failures on suspension and bodywork than the older fleet.
Band to be cautious about
82.9%
Pre-2018 registration
On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 82.9% pass rate against a fleet average of 96.0% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced, damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, and not working. Average mileage on test for this band is 143,255 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (96.0% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (82.9% pass). That's a 13.1-point spread across 1,898 older tests and 125 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Headlight restoration kit
Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
H7 / W21W bulb pack
A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
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Click Mechanic · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
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Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own an Unclassified and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
