VOLVO S90 Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 417 MOT tests from 62 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 S90 has the same fault.

VOLVO S90's have a extremely good reliability rating of 798/999. The score was calculated from the average of every VOLVO S90 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 S90.

VOLVO S90 (example)

Check the reliability of your Volvo S90

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Fuel Type	Year	Reliability Score	Avg Mileage	Sample Size
Diesel	2019	800/999Excellent	78,902 miles	920 vehicles
Diesel	2018	795/999Very good	79,155 miles	980 vehicles

How reliable is the VOLVO S90?

Based on 417 MOT tests from 62 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®.

Vehicles

MOT tests

417

Pass rate

89.7%

Median mileage

73,724 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every VOLVO S90 has the same fault. The median VehicleScore® in this sample is 852 out of 999.

Common VOLVO S90 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 70 advisory comments and 15 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: NEARSIDE FRONT TYRE WORN CLOSE TO LEGAL LIMIT/WORN ON EDGE (5.2.3 (E))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 41 advisory comments and 8 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 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))

Ball joint wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 6 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a worn or damaged ball joint. Track rod ends are counted with steering, not here.

What to inspect

Ask for the joint to be checked for play with the suspension loaded and unloaded.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT SUSPENSION ARM BALL JOINT HAS SLIGHT PLAY (5.3.4 (A) (I))

Brake disc wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 5 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 discs that were worn, scored, pitted, or corroded.

What to inspect

Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE DISC WORN, PITTED OR SCORED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (1.1.14 (A) (II))

Shock absorber issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 5 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record shock absorbers or dampers that were leaking, misting, or insecure. A light misting of oil on a damper is not an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look for oil misting on the damper body and listen for knocks over bumps.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS HAS LIGHT MISTING OF OIL (5.3.2 (B))

VOLVO S90 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
2020	9	47	89.4%	Brake pad wear, Tyre wear
2019	20	113	92%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2018	17	120	89.2%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2017	10	96	84.4%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear

What to check when buying a used VOLVO S90

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.
Ball joint wear. Ask for the joint to be checked for play with the suspension loaded and unloaded.
Brake disc wear. Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.
Shock absorber issues. Look for oil misting on the damper body and listen for knocks over bumps.

Buying a VOLVO S90?

Common problems tell you what can affect VOLVO S90s 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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