VOLVO C30 Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 3,248 MOT tests from 182 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®. The figures below describe that VehicleScore® sample. Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are not a claim that every VOLVO C30 has the same fault.

VOLVO C30's have a average reliability rating of 489/999. The score was calculated from the average of every VOLVO C30 that has had a registered MOT.

We calculated all of the below figures by getting the score from each vehicle make/model/year/fuel, which are each calculated a score. We then generate the average score, taking into account factors such as mileage and emissions.

Also check BHP & performance, road tax, fuel economy, and CO2 emissions for the VOLVO C30.

VOLVO C30 (example)

Check the reliability of your Volvo C30

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Fuel Type	Year	Reliability Score	Avg Mileage	Sample Size
Diesel	2014	500/999Above average	76,453 miles	759 vehicles
Petrol	2014	576/999Above average	64,363 miles	552 vehicles
Diesel	2011	461/999Average	73,752 miles	2,572 vehicles
Petrol	2011	537/999Above average	76,079 miles	784 vehicles
Diesel	2010	450/999Average	74,251 miles	2,425 vehicles
Diesel	2009	440/999Average	75,558 miles	1,854 vehicles
Petrol	2008	458/999Average	92,124 miles	1,162 vehicles

How reliable is the VOLVO C30?

Based on 3,248 MOT tests from 182 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®.

Vehicles

182

MOT tests

3,248

Pass rate

74.5%

Median mileage

109,831 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every VOLVO C30 has the same fault. The median VehicleScore® in this sample is 553 out of 999.

Common VOLVO C30 MOT problems

These groups combine equivalent MOT comments, such as the same tyre note on different corners. Counts are comment occurrences in the sample, not a percentage of cars.

Tyre wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 694 advisory comments and 53 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record tyres that were worn, damaged, or close to the legal tread depth when the car was inspected.

What to inspect

Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT TYRE WORN CLOSE TO LEGAL LIMIT/WORN ON EDGE (5.2.3 (E))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 132 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake pads that were worn or below the inspection limit.

What to inspect

Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.

Example MOT wording: REAR BRAKE PAD(S) WEARING THIN (1.1.13 (A) (II))

Suspension arm issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 88 advisory comments and 29 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a worn, corroded, or damaged suspension arm or its pin.

What to inspect

Look for play or corrosion at the arm and ask whether it has been replaced.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT SUSPENSION ARM PIN OR BUSH WORN BUT NOT RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT (5.3.4 (A) (I))

Oil leak

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 89 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an oil leak noted by the tester. Shock absorber misting is counted as a damper issue, not as an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.

Example MOT wording: OIL LEAK, BUT NOT EXCESSIVE (8.4.1 (A) (I))

Lamp and bulb faults

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 62 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a lamp or bulb other than a headlamp or indicator.

What to inspect

Switch on the side, brake, fog, and number-plate lamps.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT POSITION LAMP NOT WORKING (4.2.1 (A) (II))

Coil spring issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 49 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record coil springs that were corroded, fractured, or otherwise defective. They are counted separately from shock absorbers.

What to inspect

Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED OR BROKEN (5.3.1 (B) (I))

Indicator faults

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 42 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an indicator or side repeater that was not working or was insecure.

What to inspect

Check every indicator, including the side repeaters.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE REAR DIRECTION INDICATOR INCORRECT COLOUR (4.4.3 (A))

Parking brake faults

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 26 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a parking brake that did not hold well enough or had a component defect.

What to inspect

Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.

Example MOT wording: PARKING BRAKE EFFICIENCY BELOW REQUIREMENTS (1.4.2 (A) (I))

VOLVO C30 MOT reliability by year

A model year is only commented on when VehicleScore® has at least 5 vehicles from that year.

Year	Vehicles	MOT tests	Pass rate	Recurring issues seen
2013	5	72	77.8%	Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2012	31	488	74.6%	Tyre wear, Indicator faults
2011	31	524	74%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2010	33	601	73.4%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2009	41	767	76.1%	Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
2008	18	380	73.9%	Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
2007	13	273	76.9%	Tyre wear, Registration plate condition

What to check when buying a used VOLVO C30

This is an inspection checklist based on MOT comments in the VehicleScore® sample. It does not mean the car you are looking at has these defects.

Tyre wear. Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.
Brake pad wear. Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.
Suspension arm issues. Look for play or corrosion at the arm and ask whether it has been replaced.
Oil leak. Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.
Lamp and bulb faults. Switch on the side, brake, fog, and number-plate lamps.
Coil spring issues. Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.
Indicator faults. Check every indicator, including the side repeaters.
Parking brake faults. Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.

Buying a VOLVO C30?

Common problems tell you what can affect VOLVO C30s generally. VehicleScore® can check the history of the actual car you're considering.

Where does this data come from?

VehicleScore® analyses MOT histories from vehicles in its own dataset. Sample sizes vary by model, and a small sample is labelled as such. MOT data records roadworthiness and inspection defects. It does not capture every mechanical or electronic problem a car can have, and a comment on one test is not proof that the model has an inherent fault.

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