MOT failure data · 2025

Volvo S60 MOT problems

Across every Volvo S60 that failed its 2025 MOT, the defect testers recorded most often was tread depth tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, on 5.15% of failure items. The broadest problem area was lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment at 21.77%. These are recorded defects across the model, not a diagnosis of any one car.

Most common Volvo S60 MOT failures

#	Recorded defect	Area	Share
1	Tread depth tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	5.15%
2	Brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick	Brakes	5.14%
3	Condition has ply or cords exposed	Tyres	4.58%
4	Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	4.07%
5	Position lamp not working	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	3.92%
6	Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	3.34%
7	Condition has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords	Tyres	3.14%
8	Joints constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt	Body, chassis, structure	3.09%
9	Track rod end ball joint has excessive play	Steering	2.91%
10	Rbt (sp) efficiency below requirements	Brakes	2.87%

Shares are of all recorded failure items for this model, so they sum to less than 100% — a single failed test often records several defects, and the long tail below the top 10 is not shown.

What this means if you are buying one

Use it as a viewing checklist. If you are looking at a Volvo S60, these are the areas worth inspecting and worth asking about — and worth reading the car's own MOT history for, since a defect that keeps reappearing as an advisory is a better signal than any model-wide average.

The MOT record also has hard limits: it does not check the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it says nothing about outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen markers or whether the mileage is genuine. Our used Volvo S60 buying guide covers what to check beyond the MOT.

Checking a specific Volvo S60?

Enter its registration for finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history.

Other Volvo models

Volvo S60 MOT FAQs

What does a Volvo S60 most commonly fail its MOT on?

The single most recorded defect on Volvo S60 cars failing their 2025 MOT was "tread depth tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm", appearing on 5.15% of failure items.

Does this mean my Volvo S60 will fail?

No. This is what testers recorded across every Volvo S60 that failed in 2025. It shows where this model tends to need attention, not the condition of any individual car. The Volvo S60 passed 76.5% of its initial tests.

How do I see a specific Volvo S60's MOT history?

Enter its registration on our free MOT history check to see that car's own test results, advisories and recorded mileages.

Defect counts from the DVSA MOT Anonymised test-item data for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, failure items only — advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.