2003 · 21 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2003 Volvo S80 MOT pass rate and common faults

416 MOT tests in 2024. 58.7% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

102Above average
Passed first time58.7%
Failed or needed repairs41.3%
Typical mileage at test125,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 416 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working8.7%
  2. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements6.5%
  3. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.6%
  4. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.6%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.1%
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value2.6%
    15 marked dangerous
  7. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.4%
  8. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.4%
  9. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps2.2%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics31.0%
  2. Brakes24.5%
  3. Suspension12.7%
  4. Body & chassis11.8%
  5. Emissions & leaks7.2%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.3%
  7. Steering5.0%
  8. Tyres5.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn18.0%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.9%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.5%
  4. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened11.3%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure8.7%

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 2003 Volvo S80?

In 2024, 58.7% of 2003 Volvo S80 cars passed their MOT first time, across 416 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 Volvo S80?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2003 Volvo S80 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 102, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).