2011 Volvo V60 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 15,899 MOT tests, the 2011 Volvo V60 recorded a 79.6% pass rate. Against large family cars of a similar age (22.9% fail rate), the 2011 V60 comes out 2.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.0%) and tyres (7.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 715 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.6% versus 12.6%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 16.6% fail against 20.8% for diesel, a 4.2-point gap across 15,899 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 1,274 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.1% | 1,122 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.2% | 989 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.9% | 933 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 555 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.9% | 456 |
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 | 715 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 569 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 538 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 463 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 435 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 364 |
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 | 29.2% | 4,645 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.6% | 3,593 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.4% | 3,249 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.2% | 1,616 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 1,419 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 715 |
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 | 87 | 12.6% |
| 30-60k | 864 | 12.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,970 | 17.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,741 | 20.5% |
| 120-150k | 3,823 | 21.6% |
| 150k+ | 3,409 | 23.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,472 | 20.8% |
| Petrol | 1,427 | 16.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,268 | 18.6% |
| 2022 | 3,274 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 3,246 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 3,154 | 21.6% |
| 2025 | 2,957 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 2011 V60
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.1% 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.
- Suspension (6.2% 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 2011 Volvo V60s pass their MOT?
79.6% of the 15,899 2011 Volvo V60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Volvo V60?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by tyres (7.1%).
Does the 2011 V60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.6% in the 0-30k band to 23.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,899 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.