2009 Volvo S60 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Volvo S60 passed 77.6% of its 366 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (21.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.6% of tests against 12.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 44 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.0% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 25.3% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.2% in 2021 to 19.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 68 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.8% | 47 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.5% | 20 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.2% | 19 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 9 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 9 |
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 | 44 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 20 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 17 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 15 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 24.9% | 91 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.0% | 88 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.0% | 88 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 65 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.2% | 30 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.4% | 27 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 75 | 20.0% |
| 90-120k | 97 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 87 | 25.3% |
| 150k+ | 95 | 25.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 200 | 17.0% |
| Petrol | 166 | 28.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81 | 22.2% |
| 2022 | 84 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 72 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 67 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 62 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 S60
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.8% 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.
- Tyres (5.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2009 Volvo S60s pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 366 2009 Volvo S60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volvo S60?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.6% of tests, followed by brakes (12.8%).
Does the 2009 S60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 60-90k band to 25.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 366 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.