2001 · 23 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2001 Volvo S80 MOT pass rate and common faults

237 MOT tests in 2024. 54.4% passed first time, compared with 59.4% for all cars the same age.

92Well below average
Passed first time54.4%
Failed or needed repairs45.6%
Typical mileage at test118,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 237 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working8.0%
  2. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements6.3%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm4.2%
    15 marked dangerous
  4. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.2%
  5. Stop lamp: not working3.4%
  6. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.4%
  7. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.0%
  8. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn3.0%
  9. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.0%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics38.0%
  2. Suspension21.5%
  3. Brakes20.7%
  4. Emissions & leaks10.5%
  5. Body & chassis9.3%
  6. Tyres7.2%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.5%
  8. Steering4.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn17.7%
  2. Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s)17.3%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.0%
  4. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened12.7%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. 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 2001 Volvo S80?

In 2024, 54.4% of 2001 Volvo S80 cars passed their MOT first time, across 237 tests. The average for all 23-year-old cars was 59.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2001 Volvo S80?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2001 Volvo S80 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 92, which is well below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).