Volvo B18 vs Volvo Unknown: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Volvo B18
74%
MOT pass rate · 16 vehicles
Volvo Unknown
86%
MOT pass rate · 319,034 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Volvo B18 (74%) and Volvo Unknown (86%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Volvo B18 | Volvo Unknown |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 74% | 86% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 26% | 14% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.7 | 0.7 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 2% ✓ | 4% |
| Average mileage | 53,785 mi | 431,427 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 16 | 319,034 |
Most common faults
Volvo B18
- Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
- Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
- Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)
- Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)
- Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)
- Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)
Volvo Unknown
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))
- Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))
- Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Volvo B18 (74%) and Volvo Unknown (86%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Volvo B18 report Full Volvo Unknown report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.