2008 · 16 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2008 Volvo S60 MOT pass rate and common faults

340 MOT tests in 2024. 61.8% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

109Well above average
Passed first time61.8%
Failed or needed repairs38.2%
Typical mileage at test121,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 340 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working6.5%
  2. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements5.9%
  3. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side4.4%
  4. Service brake performance: excessively binding3.2%
  5. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.2%
  6. Electronic stability control: warning lamp indicates a fault2.4%
  7. Rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value2.4%
    9 marked dangerous
  8. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
    10 marked dangerous
  9. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.1%
  10. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.8%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Brakes29.7%
  2. Lights & electrics29.4%
  3. Suspension8.5%
  4. Tyres7.1%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.3%
  6. Body & chassis4.4%
  7. Steering3.2%
  8. Emissions & leaks2.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn16.8%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.9%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.8%
  4. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened8.8%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.6%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2008 Volvo S60?

In 2024, 61.8% of 2008 Volvo S60 cars passed their MOT first time, across 340 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 Volvo S60?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; parking brake performance: inoperative on one side. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2008 Volvo S60 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 109, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).