2020 Volvo Xc90 Inscription Pro B5 A — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 709 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Volvo Xc90 Inscription Pro B5 A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 89.3% was below the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 16.5% in the 60-90k group versus 6.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.6% | 47 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.4% | 10 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 9 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.1% | 8 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 6 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.9% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 12 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 8 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 5 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 5 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 4 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.0% | 142 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 100 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 45 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.1% | 29 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.7% | 26 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 14 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 211 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 375 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 103 | 16.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 224 | 6.7% |
| 2024 | 236 | 12.3% |
| 2025 | 244 | 13.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Xc90 Inscription Pro B5 A
Before buying a 2020 Volvo Xc90 Inscription Pro B5 A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.6% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (6.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (1.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (1.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2020 Volvo Xc90 Inscription Pro B5 As pass their MOT?
89.3% of the 709 2020 Volvo Xc90 Inscription Pro B5 A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volvo Xc90 Inscription Pro B5 A?
Tyres, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by brakes (1.4%).
Does the 2020 Xc90 Inscription Pro B5 A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 16.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 709 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.