2001 Volvo S60 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,354 MOT tests, the 2001 Volvo S60 recorded a 74.1% pass rate. That is 1.8 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests against 11.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 218 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 26.4% versus 17.9%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.3% in 2021 to 24.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 463 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.5% | 271 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.7% | 251 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 128 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.1% | 120 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 92 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 218 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 196 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 127 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 120 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 116 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 95 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 38.1% | 896 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.2% | 687 |
| 3 | Other defects | 25.6% | 603 |
| 4 | Tyres | 25.3% | 596 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.4% | 434 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 350 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 134 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 425 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 566 | 26.0% |
| 120-150k | 639 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 565 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,281 | 26.0% |
| Diesel | 73 | 21.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 689 | 26.3% |
| 2022 | 534 | 24.9% |
| 2023 | 455 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 378 | 27.0% |
| 2025 | 298 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 2001 S60
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (10.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2001 Volvo S60s pass their MOT?
74.1% of the 2,354 2001 Volvo S60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Volvo S60?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests, followed by brakes (11.5%).
Does the 2001 S60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.9% in the 30-60k band to 26.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,354 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.