Volvo
V50
60,035 MOT tests analysed. runs below the UK fleet average — here's where V50s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 10.6 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
66.9%
Pass-after-fix
4.7%
Fail
27.8%
Avg miles
132,669
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 .
The picture
Volvo V50: challenging MOT record across 46,001 tests
The Volvo V50 is a diesel-powered car sold in the UK market across multiple generations, covering a broad date range in the test population.
MOT data from 46,001 tests puts this car on a 66.1% first-time pass rate, well below the UK fleet average. Average mileage at test is 128,677 miles. The most common fail item is failed number plate light, followed by transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated.
Honest John owner records point to electrical faults in the infotainment system as the recurring problems to check before buying used.
The V50's pass rate warrants caution in the used market. Factor in likely first-test remedial work on the common failure items and get a pre-purchase inspection that covers the specific items this car trips on most.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 16–26
Around the UK fleet average for insurance cost. 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 →
16–26
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
3,890 occurrences · 6.5% of tests
- 02
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
3,302 occurrences · 5.5% of tests
- 03
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
2,525 occurrences · 4.2% of tests
- 04
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
2,199 occurrences · 3.7% of tests
- 05
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
2,081 occurrences · 3.5% of tests
- 06
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
1,909 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
- 07
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
1,860 occurrences · 3.1% of tests
- 08
A tyre cords visible or damaged
1,763 occurrences · 2.9% of tests
- 09
A lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning
1,494 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
- 10
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
1,374 occurrences · 2.3% 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 3 failures
£168–£515
If every one of this V50'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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Parts & supplies for this fix
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Owner reports · Honest John
What owners actually report.
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
Where it falls short
Not everyone gets on with the floating dashboard. Boy Racer packages like the expensive R pack not suited to Volvo clientele. Expensive problems with diesels more than three years old.
Recent owner-reported faults
- 4 Mar 2011
Volvo says, "Regarding the D2 diesel engine, the software has been improved so that particle filter regeneration is facilitated. As for all modern diesel engines with particle filter, it is still recommended to do some driving at a bit higher loads once in awhile, to ensure cleaning of the particle filter. However, our experience is that the D2 in V50 is really easy to regerarate, so it should work fine also for mostly city-driving. There is one second point concerning the D
- 1 Jan 0001
Special plastic electronic 'key' gets stuck in dashboard and in January 2006 Volvo was quoting until May 2006 to supply a replacement, offering customers courtesy cars for that period. Timing belt tensioners of D5s have been failing, so advisable to change belts and tensioners at 4 years or 60k miles whichever comes first. 2.4D and D5 Inlet manifold swirl flaps prone to breaking off at any time from 3 years old. Problems with 2.0 diesels include: brake problems, wheel bearing failure, EGR valve failure, aircon issues, software problems and electrical gremlins. End of plastic dipstick of 1.6 diesel engine can break and drop into sump requiring removal of sump to retrieve it. ESP warning light can indicate Fault Code "Boost Pressure Sensor G201". This is embedded inside Teves Mk 60 ABS systems and requires replacement of ABS control unit/pump. Seems to be age-related, occurring mainly in 3 - 5 year old cars. Does not necessarily lead to an MoT failure. If car has been Volvo maintained, Volvo will usually meet 70% to 100% of replacement cost. Bosch ABS systems do not have the problem. Only affects cars up to 2007 model year.
- 1 Jan 0001
Dodgy dealers and unscrupulous private vendors are now unplugging the ECU as no warning then shows on the dash. Replace the plug and the light 'ECU off' appears permanently whether you switch it on or off. 2010 TSB related to rising sump oil levels in D5 Diesel engines with a DPF which is caused by excess fuel entering the engine sump via cylinders during DPF regeneration cycles. The solution is to reprogram the engine management software to reduce the volume of fuel used during the regeneration cycle and drain the excess oil back to midway between the min/max levels on the dip stick, then keep an eye on it. Really, any engine that has had its lube oil contaminated by diesel needs a lube oil change. Volvo dealers quote £1,000 for a new Diesel Particulate Filter for the 2.0 diesel.
Source: honestjohn.co.uk · 3 reports indexed
Buying or keeping a V50?
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 a V50 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.