2002 Volvo S60 — MOT failures & pass rate
5,345 MOT tests on the 2002 Volvo S60 are in this dataset, and 74.8% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 24.3%, so the 2002 S60 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.5% of all tests — 7.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 521 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.8% versus 21.6%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 25.1% of the time against 25.5% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.5% | 1,041 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 665 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.3% | 550 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 308 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 254 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.7% | 197 |
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 | 521 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 435 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 371 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 263 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 237 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 213 |
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 | 39.1% | 2,092 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.9% | 1,489 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.2% | 1,456 |
| 4 | Other defects | 25.9% | 1,384 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 1,007 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 600 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 37 | 21.6% |
| 30-60k | 199 | 15.6% |
| 60-90k | 748 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,254 | 24.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,182 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,856 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,687 | 25.1% |
| Diesel | 1,649 | 25.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,591 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 1,243 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 1,042 | 24.9% |
| 2024 | 802 | 23.7% |
| 2025 | 667 | 25.8% |
What to check before buying a 2002 S60
On a 2002 S60, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.4% 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 (10.3% 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 2002 Volvo S60s pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 5,345 2002 Volvo S60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Volvo S60?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.5% of tests, followed by brakes (12.4%).
Does the 2002 S60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.6% in the 0-30k band to 28.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,345 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.