2014 Volvo S60 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Volvo S60 passed 84.1% of its 8,499 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (15.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.4%) and lighting & signalling (4.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 281 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.1% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.4% | 544 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 394 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.3% | 361 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 314 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 236 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.6% | 224 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 281 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 280 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 271 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 232 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 167 |
| 6 | Wipers | 129 |
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 | 27.0% | 2,291 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.9% | 1,774 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.3% | 1,041 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.0% | 677 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 413 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 376 |
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 | 223 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,233 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,308 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,292 | 16.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,499 | 17.9% |
| 150k+ | 941 | 19.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,305 | 16.0% |
| Petrol | 194 | 9.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,789 | 14.4% |
| 2022 | 1,764 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 1,712 | 15.5% |
| 2024 | 1,653 | 17.3% |
| 2025 | 1,581 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 2014 S60
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.4% 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 (4.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.3% 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.
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 2014 Volvo S60s pass their MOT?
84.1% of the 8,499 2014 Volvo S60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Volvo S60?
Tyres, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.6%).
Does the 2014 S60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 19.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,499 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.