Used car guide

2006 Volvo C30 petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Volvo C30 first registered in 2006 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 227 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 227 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

227MOTs of 2006 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
58%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 56%)
6,400typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for number plate lights

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2006 Volvo C30 petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2006 Volvo C30 petrol than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Number plate lights2.6× usual
    Volvo C30
    22% All 2006 cars
    8.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 2.3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

Common 2006 Volvo C30 petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2006 Volvo C30 petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    42% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    37% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    36% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    26% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    19% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2006 Volvo C30 petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2006 Volvo C30 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volvo C30?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Volvo C30 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20132,923Suspension 33%
20128,658Suspension 35%
20119,487Tyres 36%
201014,991Suspension 40%
200915,355Suspension 41%
20089,188Suspension 44%
20076,606Suspension 44%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Volvo C30 cars first registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score