2017 Volvo S60 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Volvo S60 passed 87.3% of its 6,191 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 11.6% of the time, so this is 1.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.3%) and brakes (4.2%) 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 244 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.0% versus 7.3%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.0pp more often than petrol ones (13.3% vs 10.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.3% | 389 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.2% | 260 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 245 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.1% | 130 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 106 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.9% | 57 |
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 | 244 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 197 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 143 |
| 4 | Joints | 106 |
| 5 | Washers | 83 |
| 6 | Wipers | 69 |
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 | 25.6% | 1,586 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.4% | 1,203 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.5% | 404 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 297 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.8% | 173 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.3% | 145 |
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 | 1,075 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 2,378 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,622 | 13.7% |
| 90-120k | 715 | 17.8% |
| 120-150k | 274 | 18.3% |
| 150k+ | 125 | 16.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,997 | 13.3% |
| Petrol | 1,194 | 10.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,234 | 10.1% |
| 2022 | 1,235 | 11.4% |
| 2023 | 1,229 | 12.8% |
| 2024 | 1,224 | 13.2% |
| 2025 | 1,269 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 S60
On a 2017 S60, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.3% 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 (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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% 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 2017 Volvo S60s pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 6,191 2017 Volvo S60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Volvo S60?
Tyres, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by brakes (4.2%).
Does the 2017 S60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 16.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,191 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.