2003 Volvo S60 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Volvo S60 passed 73.6% of its 7,475 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.0 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.6% of tests against 13.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 807 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.2% in the 0-30k band and 27.7% in the 150k+ band, a 9.5-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 25.8% of the time against 27.1% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 1,467 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.3% | 997 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.2% | 690 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.2% | 465 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 350 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 317 |
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 | 807 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 731 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 525 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 357 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 304 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 250 |
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 | 36.3% | 2,710 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.7% | 2,070 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.7% | 1,997 |
| 4 | Other defects | 19.8% | 1,478 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.0% | 1,343 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 775 |
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 | 44 | 18.2% |
| 30-60k | 296 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,018 | 22.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,701 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,762 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 2,608 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,993 | 25.8% |
| Diesel | 3,471 | 27.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,131 | 26.5% |
| 2022 | 1,770 | 27.1% |
| 2023 | 1,441 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 1,156 | 24.4% |
| 2025 | 977 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2003 S60
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.3% 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 (9.2% 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 2003 Volvo S60s pass their MOT?
73.6% of the 7,475 2003 Volvo S60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Volvo S60?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.6% of tests, followed by brakes (13.3%).
Does the 2003 S60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.2% in the 0-30k band to 27.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,475 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.