2011 Volvo S60 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Volvo S60 passed 81.2% of its 11,575 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 19.7%, so the 2011 S60 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.5%) and tyres (6.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 514 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.9% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 17.8% of the time against 18.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 870 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.1% | 706 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.6% | 644 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.3% | 618 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 390 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.7% | 313 |
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 | 514 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 372 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 346 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 304 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 259 |
| 6 | Washers | 224 |
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 | 27.6% | 3,197 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.2% | 2,452 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.1% | 2,330 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.9% | 1,029 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 962 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 447 |
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 | 97 | 10.3% |
| 30-60k | 839 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,648 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 3,470 | 19.8% |
| 120-150k | 2,510 | 20.7% |
| 150k+ | 2,007 | 20.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,462 | 18.9% |
| Petrol | 1,113 | 17.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,488 | 17.8% |
| 2022 | 2,405 | 17.8% |
| 2023 | 2,357 | 18.8% |
| 2024 | 2,220 | 19.5% |
| 2025 | 2,105 | 20.6% |
What to check before buying a 2011 S60
On a 2011 S60, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.1% 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.
- Brakes (5.6% 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.
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 2011 Volvo S60s pass their MOT?
81.2% of the 11,575 2011 Volvo S60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Volvo S60?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by tyres (6.1%).
Does the 2011 S60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 0-30k band to 20.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,575 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.