2002 Volvo S80 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Volvo S80 passed 75.8% of its 2,738 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 24.3%, so the 2002 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 16.8% of all tests — 5.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and rbt (sp) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 187 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2002 S80 fails 21.9% of the time in the 30-60k band and 25.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.7 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 23.8% of the time against 24.3% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 461 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.0% | 301 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.2% | 251 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 178 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.8% | 131 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 124 |
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 | 187 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 186 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 134 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 125 |
| 5 | Joints | 94 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 92 |
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 | 37.3% | 1,020 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.8% | 735 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.9% | 708 |
| 4 | Other defects | 23.3% | 637 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 428 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.1% | 332 |
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 | 155 | 21.9% |
| 60-90k | 459 | 22.2% |
| 90-120k | 681 | 23.2% |
| 120-150k | 603 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 783 | 25.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,959 | 24.3% |
| Diesel | 777 | 23.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 762 | 24.8% |
| 2022 | 642 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 555 | 24.3% |
| 2024 | 427 | 22.7% |
| 2025 | 352 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a 2002 S80
On a 2002 S80, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.0% 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 (9.2% 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 2002 Volvo S80s pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 2,738 2002 Volvo S80 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Volvo S80?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by brakes (11.0%).
Does the 2002 S80 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.9% in the 30-60k band to 25.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,738 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.