2015 Volvo S60 — MOT failures & pass rate
7,383 MOT tests on the 2015 Volvo S60 are in this dataset, and 84.9% of them passed. That is 1.0 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 14.0%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.7%) 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 brake pads, tread depth and malfunction indicator lamp — brake pads alone was recorded 271 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.5% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.7% | 491 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 337 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.2% | 312 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 242 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 155 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 137 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 271 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 261 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 207 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 191 |
| 5 | Joints | 122 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 89 |
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 | 27.8% | 2,049 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.3% | 1,570 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.0% | 662 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 576 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.5% | 551 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 292 |
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 | 288 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,652 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,208 | 14.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,728 | 17.8% |
| 120-150k | 922 | 17.6% |
| 150k+ | 579 | 19.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,997 | 15.4% |
| Petrol | 386 | 9.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,513 | 12.9% |
| 2022 | 1,469 | 13.2% |
| 2023 | 1,486 | 15.2% |
| 2024 | 1,488 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 1,427 | 16.5% |
What to check before buying a 2015 S60
On a 2015 S60, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.7% 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 (4.2% 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 2015 Volvo S60s pass their MOT?
84.9% of the 7,383 2015 Volvo S60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Volvo S60?
Tyres, recorded in 6.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.6%).
Does the 2015 S60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 19.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,383 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.