2012 Volvo S60 — MOT failures & pass rate
11,250 MOT tests on the 2012 Volvo S60 are in this dataset, and 79.5% of them passed. That is 2.2 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 18.3%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.2%) and tyres (7.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, headlamp aim and tread depth — track rod end alone was recorded 484 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.0% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 17.4% fail against 20.8% for diesel, a 3.3-point gap across 11,250 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.2% | 808 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.0% | 787 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 753 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.3% | 599 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.2% | 467 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 403 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 484 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 439 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 417 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 393 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 361 |
| 6 | Washers | 266 |
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 | 27.2% | 3,054 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.3% | 2,513 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.8% | 2,337 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.8% | 990 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 676 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.2% | 589 |
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 | 110 | 14.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,054 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,933 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,285 | 21.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,117 | 22.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,750 | 23.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,459 | 20.8% |
| Petrol | 791 | 17.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,390 | 19.3% |
| 2022 | 2,321 | 19.4% |
| 2023 | 2,283 | 21.1% |
| 2024 | 2,179 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 2,077 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 S60
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.2% 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.
- Tyres (7.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2012 Volvo S60s pass their MOT?
79.5% of the 11,250 2012 Volvo S60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Volvo S60?
Suspension, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by tyres (7.0%).
Does the 2012 S60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.5% in the 0-30k band to 23.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,250 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.