1999 Volvo S80 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Volvo S80 passed 76.8% of its 681 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 23.3%, so the 1999 S80 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.9% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and anti-lock braking system — position lamp alone was recorded 53 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 S80 fails 23.4% of the time in the 30-60k band and 23.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.4% in 2021 to 21.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 115 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.8% | 80 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.2% | 49 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 41 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 31 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.1% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 53 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 41 |
| 3 | Anti-lock braking system | 30 |
| 4 | Wipers | 29 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 25 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 23 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 36.1% | 246 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.3% | 186 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.6% | 174 |
| 4 | Other defects | 20.7% | 141 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 99 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 58 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 47 | 23.4% |
| 60-90k | 83 | 15.7% |
| 90-120k | 172 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 215 | 27.0% |
| 150k+ | 153 | 23.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 646 | 23.4% |
| Diesel | 35 | 20.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 197 | 27.4% |
| 2022 | 166 | 21.1% |
| 2023 | 134 | 23.1% |
| 2024 | 105 | 20.0% |
| 2025 | 79 | 21.5% |
What to check before buying a 1999 S80
On a 1999 S80, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.8% 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.
- 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.
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 1999 Volvo S80s pass their MOT?
76.8% of the 681 1999 Volvo S80 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Volvo S80?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.9% of tests, followed by brakes (11.8%).
Does the 1999 S80 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.4% in the 30-60k band to 23.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 681 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.