2008 · 16 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2008 Volvo S80 MOT pass rate and common faults

640 MOT tests in 2024. 68.6% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

121Well above average
Passed first time68.6%
Failed or needed repairs31.4%
Typical mileage at test133,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 640 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working5.2%
  2. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.3%
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.7%
    27 marked dangerous
  4. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.7%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.7%
    21 marked dangerous
  6. Headlamp aim: too low1.9%
  7. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.9%
  8. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.7%
  9. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.6%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics21.9%
  2. Suspension12.0%
  3. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.7%
  4. Tyres6.3%
  5. Brakes5.8%
  6. Body & chassis3.9%
  7. Steering3.6%
  8. Emissions & leaks1.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.2%
  2. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened12.8%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.4%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.2%
  5. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened7.0%

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: 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 S80?

In 2024, 68.6% of 2008 Volvo S80 cars passed their MOT first time, across 640 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 Volvo S80?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2008 Volvo S80 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 121, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).