Volvo S60 MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 15,844 class-4 normal initial MOT tests in 2024, 69.6% passed without an initial fail or PRS repair — below the 71.2% UK average. Pass rate moves with age: 86.4% of cars aged 3–5 years passed first time, against 59.7% aged 15–30 years.
Checking a Volvo S60?
Model-level statistics cannot reveal the condition or provenance of one car.
Check its registration free for the actual MOT, tax and mileage record. Before buying, the optional £9.99 full history check adds outstanding-finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks.
Pass rate by vehicle age
| Age | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 493 | 86.4% |
| 6–9 years | 4,028 | 78.1% |
| 10–14 years | 5,716 | 71.9% |
| 15–30 years | 5,607 | 59.7% |
Common initial failure categories
These are the items that most often caused a Volvo S60 to fail its first test, with what each one usually means for a buyer.
- Headlamp Aim — 5.5% of tests. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Brake Performance — 5.2% of tests. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
- Condition — 5% of tests. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Position Lamps — 3.5% of tests. A side or tail light out. Usually a bulb.
- Mechanical Brake Components — 3.2% of tests. Worn discs, pads or callipers. Routine wear, but it should be priced into the deal.
- Headlamps — 3.1% of tests. A headlight fault, from a blown bulb to a failed unit.
What this does and does not tell you
A pass rate describes how a population of cars behaved on test day. It says nothing about how one car was driven, serviced or repaired, and an MOT does not cover the engine, clutch or gearbox at all.
Use it to know what to look for: if tyres and brakes dominate the list, price those in; if corrosion or suspension appears, get underneath the car. Then check the individual vehicle — its MOT history shows whether these same items have been advised year after year, and its mileage record shows whether the reading is consistent.
How many Volvo S60 are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 18,498 licensed and 4,560 SORN vehicles in the Volvo S60 generic-model group.
Licensed and SORN trend for the Volvo S60
Before you buy
- Headlamp Aim — 5.5% of tests in 2024. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Brake Performance — 5.2% of tests in 2024. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
- Condition — 5% of tests in 2024. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Position Lamps — 3.5% of tests in 2024. A side or tail light out. Usually a bulb.
- Budget for a shrinking fleet — Licensed numbers are down 51% from the 2014 Q3 peak of 37,489. Fewer cars on the road usually means fewer donor parts and fewer specialists.
- Check the actual S60 — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.
Other Volvo models
- Volvo Xc60 — 77.6% pass
- Volvo V40 — 73% pass
- Volvo Xc90 — 70.8% pass
- Volvo Xc40 — 89.4% pass
- Volvo V70 — 63.3% pass
- Volvo V50 — 54.8% pass
See every Volvo model MOT pass rate
Common questions
What is the Volvo S60 MOT pass rate?
69.6% of 15,844 class-4 initial MOT tests on the Volvo S60 passed first time in 2024 — below the 71.2% UK average.
Why does the S60 fail its MOT?
The most common initial failure categories are headlamp aim (5.5% of tests), brake performance (5.2% of tests), condition (5% of tests), position lamps (3.5% of tests).
How many Volvo S60 are left in the UK?
18,498 were licensed and 4,560 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.
Does this tell me whether one particular S60 is a good buy?
No. These are population statistics. Enter that car's registration for its own MOT, tax and mileage record, then check outstanding finance, write-off and stolen markers before buying.
Methodology and limitations
MOT outcomes describe testable items at the time of inspection. They are not a measure of overall mechanical reliability.
Scope: Class 4 normal initial MOT tests completed in 2024. Models require at least 1,000 qualifying tests. Duplicate source rows are removed using official DVSA test IDs.
Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published 2025-05-23 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check the actual car
Enter the registration for that car's own free MOT, tax and mileage record. Before money changes hands, the £9.99 full history check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-off and stolen checks.