Reliability report
Volvo S60 reliability and common faults
Based on 111,359 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
24.0%
fail rate · average 26.6%
better than average
17,116 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
55.4%
with defects · average 58.0%
better than average
33,615 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
47.9%
first-time pass · average 48.2%
about average
60,628 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Volvo S60
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Driving controls
Wheels
Exhaust and emissions
Tyres
Brakes
Steering
Lights and electrics
Plates and identification
Seat belts and airbags
Body and structure
Suspension
Visibility
Most common test failures
- 1Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 2Driveshaft boot damaged and not sealing
- 3Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 4Tyre insufficient tread
- 5Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 6Sidelight not working (properly)
- 7Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 8Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 9Rear light not working (properly)
- 10Exhaust system not gas-tight / unsafe exhaust gas discharge
- 11Tyre damaged
- 12Steering or steering knuckle ball joint with wear of 1.0 mm or less
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 7.3% avg 9.9% | 20.5% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 15.9% avg 15.3% | 31.2% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 21.0% avg 22.9% | 39.8% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 24.9% avg 30.3% | 48.6% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 30.1% avg 34.6% | 63.6% avg 64.7% |
| 21+ years | 33.0% avg 31.4% | 69.4% avg 68.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | S60 | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 78.6% | 86.7% | 56 |
| 2020 | 78.6% | 78.6% | 56 |
| 2019 | 67.7% | 83.2% | 133 |
| 2018 | 72.3% | 79.5% | 224 |
| 2017 | 69.1% | 76.6% | 437 |
| 2016 | 71.6% | 72.8% | 684 |
| 2015 | 66.6% | 71.1% | 1,266 |
| 2014 | 69.0% | 68.0% | 1,353 |
| 2013 | 61.4% | 65.9% | 1,413 |
| 2012 | 58.4% | 63.7% | 2,313 |
| 2011 | 67.5% | 61.2% | 2,136 |
| 2010 | 70.4% | 57.3% | 1,109 |
| 2009 | 45.1% | 54.5% | 696 |
| 2008 | 53.3% | 52.4% | 1,627 |
| 2007 | 47.2% | 50.6% | 2,382 |
Volvo S60 – FAQs
How reliable is the Volvo S60?+
In the UK the Volvo S60 fails 24.0% of MOT tests, against an average of 26.6% for cars of the same age – better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 55.4% of APK inspections (average there 58.0%) – better than average. In Lithuania 47.9% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 48.2%) – about average.
What goes wrong most often on the Volvo S60?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: wheels, exhaust and emissions.
What should I check when buying a used Volvo S60?+
The most common inspection failures: Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing; Driveshaft boot damaged and not sealing; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre insufficient tread; Tyre pressure not at correct value. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Volvo models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).