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MOT reliability

Volvo P120

731 vehicles · 6,707 completed MOT tests analysed
75%
MOT pass rate

Based on 731 Volvo P120 vehicles and 6,707 completed MOT tests, the Volvo P120 has an overall 75% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 61,300 miles.

731
Vehicles
6,707
MOT tests
1,255
Avg miles / year
1.7
Faults per test
1%
Dangerous-fault share

Volvo P120 problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Volvo P120 MOT tests:

  • Other99%
  • Brakes5%
  • Emissions & nuisance5%
  • Tyres, wheels & suspension5%
  • Steering5%
  • Seatbelts & equipment4%
  • Body & structure2%
  • Lamps & electrical2%

Volvo P120 pass rate by age

Age (years)TestsPass rate
11182%
21377%
3786%
41377%
51090%
61275%
71662%
81362%
91681%
101567%
111070%
121385%
131080%
14989%
15978%
16667%
171464%
181479%
191867%
201771%

Fuel types: Petrol (728), Diesel (3)

Most common Volvo P120 MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Volvo P120 MOT tests:

  1. Oil leak (249 times)
  2. Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) (208 times)
  3. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3) (161 times)
  4. Horn not working (1.6.2a) (144 times)
  5. Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) (97 times)
  6. Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b) (96 times)
  7. Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b) (86 times)
  8. Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b) (83 times)
  9. Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a) (82 times)
  10. Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i)) (77 times)
  11. Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (72 times)
  12. Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3) (71 times)
  13. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (68 times)
  14. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (67 times)
  15. Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d) (66 times)

Volvo P120 pass rate by registration year

YearVehiclesTestsPass rateAvg mileage
2021 1 2 50% 50,986
2020 2 5 100% 85,672
2019 5 9 67% 56,490
2018 5 20 85% 70,132
2017 4 13 69% 38,372
2014 1 8 75% 55,643
2013 1 6 67% 57,487
2011 2 25 72% 33,540
2009 2 36 67% 96,477
2005 1 3 67% 77,184
2004 1 13 77% 99,060
2003 2 9 89% 12,726
2002 3 43 86% 32,445
2000 1 10 80% 45,080
1999 1 24 79% 98,107
1997 3 17 59% 24,414
1991 1 9 89% 848,091
1990 4 34 56% 72,764
1989 3 44 70% 43,251
1988 3 27 81% 22,078
1987 3 31 68% 61,291
1986 1 4 50% 81,137
1985 2 37 78% 75,674
1984 3 26 69% 76,115
1982 1 8 50% 71,654
1980 1 9 100% 33,612
1979 1 9 67% 11,814
1978 2 31 81% 93,273
1977 1 2 100% 12,703
1976 1 9 89% 39,422
1971 1 2 50% 2,397
1970 20 196 71% 52,789
1969 20 142 80% 54,830
1968 107 851 77% 58,766
1967 124 1,133 76% 62,770
1966 163 1,709 73% 64,647
1965 101 1,004 73% 61,247
1964 61 538 74% 62,613
1963 29 259 82% 56,186
1962 22 190 71% 57,380
1961 15 121 86% 49,662
1960 4 11 64% 24,729
1959 1 10 80% 70,298
1934 1 18 72% 45,286

Volvo P120 reliability FAQ

Across 731 Volvo P120 vehicles in our MOT data, 75% pass the MOT (a 25% failure rate), with about 1.7 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Volvo P120 MOT issues are: Oil leak; Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7); Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3).

The typical Volvo P120 in our data has covered around 61,300 miles.

Compare the Volvo P120

See how the Volvo P120 stacks up against other Volvo models on MOT reliability:

P120 vs Unknown P120 vs V40 P120 vs V70 P120 vs S40

Check a specific Volvo P120

Enter a registration to see that exact vehicle's full MOT history, advisories and recurring faults.

See all Volvo models · Learn about common MOT failures · what an MOT checks