2004 Volvo S80 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Volvo S80 passed 75.4% of its 3,288 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 24.3%, so the 2004 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 15.0% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 290 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 26.6% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 24.2% of the time against 24.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 492 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.9% | 391 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.9% | 259 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 182 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.1% | 167 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.6% | 150 |
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 | 290 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 231 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 206 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 149 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 121 |
| 6 | Joints | 119 |
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 | 35.7% | 1,173 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.4% | 869 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.8% | 717 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.7% | 416 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 394 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 386 |
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 | 120 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 407 | 19.9% |
| 90-120k | 852 | 23.9% |
| 120-150k | 785 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,103 | 26.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,869 | 24.9% |
| Petrol | 1,408 | 24.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 899 | 24.4% |
| 2022 | 757 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 654 | 25.1% |
| 2024 | 542 | 25.7% |
| 2025 | 436 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 S80
On a 2004 S80, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.9% 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.
- Suspension (7.9% 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 2004 Volvo S80s pass their MOT?
75.4% of the 3,288 2004 Volvo S80 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Volvo S80?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by brakes (11.9%).
Does the 2004 S80 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.2% in the 30-60k band to 26.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,288 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.