2004 · 20 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2004 Volvo S80 MOT pass rate and common faults

426 MOT tests in 2024. 59.6% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

106Above average
Passed first time59.6%
Failed or needed repairs40.4%
Typical mileage at test128,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 426 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements4.9%
  2. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.7%
  3. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play4.2%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value3.8%
    20 marked dangerous
  5. Position lamp: not working3.8%
  6. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.8%
  7. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.8%
  8. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.6%
  9. Anti-lock braking system: warning lamp indicates an ABS fault2.6%
  10. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics26.8%
  2. Brakes23.5%
  3. Suspension10.8%
  4. Body & chassis8.7%
  5. Tyres7.5%
  6. Steering6.6%
  7. Emissions & leaks6.1%
  8. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn16.7%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.2%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened13.1%
  4. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened11.5%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure11.0%

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: rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2003 S80All S80 years2005 S80 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 Volvo S80?

In 2024, 59.6% of 2004 Volvo S80 cars passed their MOT first time, across 426 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Volvo S80?

The most common failure reasons were rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; track rod end: ball joint has excessive play. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2004 Volvo S80 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 106, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).