2016 Volvo S60 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,860 MOT tests, the 2016 Volvo S60 recorded an 86.3% pass rate. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (12.7% 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 (4.8%) 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 headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 275 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.5% in the 0-30k band and 18.9% in the 150k+ band, a 12.4-point spread — more than double.
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 — 10.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.4% | 436 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 327 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.5% | 306 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.1% | 147 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 139 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 114 |
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 | 275 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 250 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 170 |
| 4 | Joints | 137 |
| 5 | Wipers | 112 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 107 |
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% | 1,851 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.1% | 1,450 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.1% | 486 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 443 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.5% | 377 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 217 |
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 | 509 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,038 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,137 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,303 | 15.4% |
| 120-150k | 556 | 18.7% |
| 150k+ | 313 | 18.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,369 | 13.9% |
| Petrol | 491 | 10.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,372 | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 1,371 | 12.5% |
| 2023 | 1,372 | 13.3% |
| 2024 | 1,347 | 14.3% |
| 2025 | 1,398 | 17.7% |
What to check before buying a 2016 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 (4.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.5% 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 2016 Volvo S60s pass their MOT?
86.3% of the 6,860 2016 Volvo S60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Volvo S60?
Tyres, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.8%).
Does the 2016 S60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 18.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,860 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.