Executive car · 2000–2021 cars
Volvo S60 reliability
The Volvo S60 fails 29% of first MOT tests, 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 69,652 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Volvo S60 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 29%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 15% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 69,652
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 10,100
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Volvo S60 ages
Each point is the share of Volvo S60s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Volvo S60 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 11.2% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 14.1% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 18% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 18.8% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 20.8% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 24.4% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 24.9% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 27.1% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 27.3% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 27.7% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 26.3% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 38.5% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 39.8% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 41.4% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 39.1% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 40.2% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 41.2% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 44.1% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 42.1% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 39.2% | 40.6% |
By year
The best and worst Volvo S60 years
2010 cars come out best and 2018 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 S60 | 2,106 | 11.6% | 8% fewer fails | 28,211 |
| 2019 S60 | 3,039 | 13% | 2% fewer fails | 31,100 |
| 2018 S60 | 3,013 | 16.3% | 1% more fails | 40,475 |
| 2017 S60 | 3,643 | 18.1% | 6% fewer fails | 55,115 |
| 2016 S60 | 4,046 | 20.4% | 11% fewer fails | 72,073 |
| 2015 S60 | 4,275 | 21.8% | 19% fewer fails | 83,479 |
| 2014 S60 | 4,892 | 23.7% | 22% fewer fails | 97,070 |
| 2013 S60 | 4,836 | 24.7% | 25% fewer fails | 99,045 |
| 2012 S60 | 5,938 | 29.4% | 17% fewer fails | 103,998 |
| 2011 S60 | 6,371 | 27.1% | 29% fewer fails | 108,264 |
| 2010 S60 | 2,370 | 25.4% | 36% fewer fails | 110,371 |
| 2008 S60 | 1,268 | 38% | 12% fewer fails | 118,016 |
| 2007 S60 | 2,292 | 41.1% | 7% fewer fails | 124,248 |
| 2006 S60 | 3,949 | 38.8% | 13% fewer fails | 123,500 |
| 2005 S60 | 5,184 | 37.9% | 16% fewer fails | 131,364 |
| 2004 S60 | 4,543 | 42.9% | 5% fewer fails | 135,784 |
| 2003 S60 | 3,672 | 45.1% | 0% more fails | 129,887 |
| 2002 S60 | 2,653 | 40% | 10% fewer fails | 128,948 |
| 2001 S60 | 1,154 | 42.9% | 0% more fails | 121,663 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Volvo S60
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics12.3%18% below avg
- Brakes9.4%2% above avg
- Tyres7.4%7% above avg
- Suspension6.2%48% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.4%37% below avg
- Steering2.9%4% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure2.7%48% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.3%47% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.7%60% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Position lamp not working 2.98% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 2.42% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 2.35% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.21% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 5
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 2.02% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 6
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.93% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 7
Dipped beam headlamp not working 1.44% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
- 8
Track rod end ball joint excessively worn 1.41% of tests
Worn steering ball joints can affect steering control and safety, so repair is needed before the car is driven.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Volvo S60's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit15.34%
- Brake pads wearing thin8.36%
- Brake disc pitted or scored8.08%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear6.69%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking5.94%
- Coil spring showing some corrosion5.3%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Volvo S60
- 1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Volvo S60 covers about 10,100 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Diesel69.6%
- Petrol29.5%
- Hybrid0.5%
- Other0.3%
- LPG0.1%
Most common colours
Black, Blue, Grey, Silver, Red
Average engine size: 2.1 litres.
Compare
How the Volvo S60 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| BMW M3 | 12.5% | 62% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Audi A7 | 13.9% | 48% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| BMW 6 Series | 18.6% | 40% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| BMW M4 | 10.5% | 39% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz CLS | 24% | 24% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volvo S60 | 29% | 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jaguar X-Type | 41.8% | about average for its age |
Every executive car ranked in the executive car reliability index, or all Volvo models.
Questions
Volvo S60 questions, answered
Is the Volvo S60 reliable?
On MOT results, the Volvo S60 is about average: it fails 29% of first MOT tests, 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 34 of 40 executive car models in our index.
What fails most on a Volvo S60 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Volvo S60 are position lamp not working (2.98% of tests), headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect (2.42% of tests), brake pads worn below 1.5mm (2.35% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 12.3% of its tests.
Which Volvo S60 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2010 cars do best (36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2018 cars do worst (about average for its age).
How many miles does a Volvo S60 do a year?
A typical Volvo S60 covers about 10,100 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Volvo S60 before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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