2006 Volvo S60 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,316 MOT tests, the 2006 Volvo S60 recorded a 75.5% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 23.7%, so the 2006 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 17.3% of all tests — 3.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 763 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.4% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 24.1% of the time against 24.7% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 1,265 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.8% | 1,011 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.9% | 505 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.0% | 437 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 285 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.4% | 252 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 763 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 544 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 528 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 475 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 269 |
| 6 | Parking brake performance | 247 |
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 | 28.2% | 2,060 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.4% | 1,934 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.3% | 1,847 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.6% | 1,580 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.3% | 753 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 628 |
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 | 42 | 14.3% |
| 30-60k | 370 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,216 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,806 | 24.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,863 | 25.7% |
| 150k+ | 2,018 | 27.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,889 | 24.7% |
| Petrol | 2,427 | 24.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,878 | 24.0% |
| 2022 | 1,674 | 24.7% |
| 2023 | 1,469 | 25.5% |
| 2024 | 1,274 | 25.1% |
| 2025 | 1,021 | 22.7% |
What to check before buying a 2006 S60
On a 2006 S60, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.8% 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 (6.9% 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 2006 Volvo S60s pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 7,316 2006 Volvo S60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Volvo S60?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by brakes (13.8%).
Does the 2006 S60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.3% in the 0-30k band to 27.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,316 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.