Used car guide

2016 Volvo V90: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Volvo V90s, from 435 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 435 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

435MOT tests in 2025
75%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
9,700typical miles a year
5.6×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Volvo V90s than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints5.6× usual
    Volvo V90
    10.6% All 2016 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.5%, against 1.1% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

Better than most

Brake discs: 4.6% here, against 12.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Volvo V90 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    27% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Suspension
    19% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    16% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    11% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Lights and electrics
    7% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    4% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Volvo V90?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20221,039Tyres 22%
20211,274Tyres 29%
20201,873Tyres 29%
20194,059Tyres 28%
20183,977Tyres 27%
20172,914Tyres 27%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 Volvo V90s registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score