2001 Volvo S80 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Volvo S80 passed 74.3% of its 1,885 recorded MOT tests. Against executive cars of a similar age (24.1% fail rate), the 2001 S80 comes out 1.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.8% of tests against 11.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and rbt (sp) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 146 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 29.1% versus 15.9%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.6% in 2021 to 24.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 355 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.0% | 208 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.9% | 186 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 129 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.6% | 106 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 99 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 146 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 145 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 109 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 80 |
| 5 | Joints | 77 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 71 |
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 | 37.4% | 704 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.8% | 524 |
| 3 | Other defects | 25.8% | 487 |
| 4 | Brakes | 24.3% | 458 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 301 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.6% | 275 |
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 | 107 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 322 | 20.8% |
| 90-120k | 495 | 23.2% |
| 120-150k | 474 | 30.8% |
| 150k+ | 474 | 29.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,768 | 25.5% |
| Diesel | 117 | 28.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 566 | 27.6% |
| 2022 | 430 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 350 | 23.7% |
| 2024 | 314 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 225 | 24.0% |
What to check before buying a 2001 S80
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.0% 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.
- Brakes (9.9% 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 2001 Volvo S80s pass their MOT?
74.3% of the 1,885 2001 Volvo S80 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Volvo S80?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.8% of tests, followed by suspension (11.0%).
Does the 2001 S80 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.9% in the 30-60k band to 29.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,885 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.