Used car guide

2018 Volvo V90: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Volvo V90s, from 3,977 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,977MOT tests in 2025
84%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
10,100typical miles a year
5.7×the usual rate for sidelights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Volvo V90s than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Sidelights5.7× usual
    Volvo V90
    4% All 2018 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.6% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Ball joint2.5× usual
    Volvo V90
    3.3% All 2018 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.6% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2× usual
    Volvo V90
    2.2% All 2018 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.6% of all 2018 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.

By area

The share of 2018 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.

  • Brakes
    20% 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.

  • Suspension
    10% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    8% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

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%
20172,914Tyres 27%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2018 Volvo V90s registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score