Executive car · 1998–2016 cars
Volvo S80 reliability
The Volvo S80 fails 30.5% of first MOT tests, 24% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 27,110 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Volvo S80 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 30.5%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 24% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 27,110
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 9,600
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Volvo S80 ages
Each point is the share of Volvo S80s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Volvo S80 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 13.7% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 16.1% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 19.1% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 21.2% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 24.4% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 24.8% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 27.1% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 26.4% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 29.4% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 30.6% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 33.2% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 34% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 37.6% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 38.7% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 42.1% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 37.4% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 42.6% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 38% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 40.3% | 37.1% |
By year
The best and worst Volvo S80 years
2010 cars come out best and 2003 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 649 | 11.4% | 49% fewer fails | 59,691 |
| 2015 S80 | 1,353 | 18.7% | 26% fewer fails | 74,044 |
| 2014 S80 | 1,363 | 19.1% | 34% fewer fails | 79,856 |
| 2013 S80 | 1,536 | 23.2% | 27% fewer fails | 88,814 |
| 2012 S80 | 1,260 | 25.3% | 28% fewer fails | 101,361 |
| 2011 S80 | 1,485 | 26.4% | 31% fewer fails | 112,297 |
| 2010 S80 | 2,153 | 24.9% | 38% fewer fails | 121,422 |
| 2009 S80 | 1,705 | 29.3% | 30% fewer fails | 124,363 |
| 2008 S80 | 2,470 | 29.3% | 32% fewer fails | 130,098 |
| 2007 S80 | 2,892 | 32.5% | 27% fewer fails | 131,991 |
| 2006 S80 | 1,507 | 33.4% | 25% fewer fails | 135,249 |
| 2005 S80 | 1,748 | 37.7% | 16% fewer fails | 137,511 |
| 2004 S80 | 1,783 | 38.8% | 14% fewer fails | 127,601 |
| 2003 S80 | 1,765 | 39% | 13% fewer fails | 126,955 |
| 2002 S80 | 1,430 | 38.1% | 13% fewer fails | 122,328 |
| 2001 | 995 | 42.8% | 1% more fails | 119,993 |
| 2000 | 492 | 42.5% | 3% more fails | 116,636 |
| 1999 | 453 | 35.5% | 11% fewer fails | 124,472 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Volvo S80
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics14.6%22% below avg
- Brakes7.6%34% below avg
- Suspension7.6%51% below avg
- Tyres6%18% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors4.3%33% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure3.8%48% below avg
- Steering3.7%1% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.8%51% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags1%55% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Position lamp not working 4.35% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Track rod end ball joint excessively worn 1.84% of tests
Worn steering ball joints can affect steering control and safety, so repair is needed before the car is driven.
- 3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.76% 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 1.76% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 5
Headlamp aim set too low 1.66% of tests
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
- 6
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.61% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 7
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 1.59% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 8
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 1.48% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Volvo S80's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit14.57%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear8.61%
- Brake disc pitted or scored7.78%
- Brake pads wearing thin6.82%
- Coil spring showing some corrosion6.58%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking6.22%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Volvo S80
- 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
Track rod end ball joint excessively worn
Worn steering ball joints can affect steering control and safety, so repair is needed before the car is driven.
- 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 S80 covers about 9,600 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
- Diesel74.9%
- Petrol24.8%
- LPG0.2%
Most common colours
Silver, Black, Blue, Grey, Green
Average engine size: 2.3 litres.
Compare
How the Volvo S80 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lexus GS | 19.4% | 45% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volvo S90 | 11.7% | 32% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volvo S80 | 30.5% | 24% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Tesla Model S | 16.8% | 20% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volvo V90 | 14.4% | 18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia | 13.3% | 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz CLC | 42.8% | 7% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every executive car ranked in the executive car reliability index, or all Volvo models.
Questions
Volvo S80 questions, answered
Is the Volvo S80 reliable?
On MOT results, the Volvo S80 is better than average: it fails 30.5% of first MOT tests, 24% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 25 of 40 executive car models in our index.
What fails most on a Volvo S80 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Volvo S80 are position lamp not working (4.35% of tests), track rod end ball joint excessively worn (1.84% of tests), brake pads worn below 1.5mm (1.76% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 14.6% of its tests.
Which Volvo S80 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2010 cars do best (38% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2003 cars do worst (13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Volvo S80 do a year?
A typical Volvo S80 covers about 9,600 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 S80 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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