2013 Volvo V60 — MOT failures & pass rate
21,665 MOT tests on the 2013 Volvo V60 are in this dataset, and 81.5% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 20.3% of the time, so this is 1.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (7.3%) and lighting & signalling (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, tread depth and brake pads — track rod end alone was recorded 799 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.2% in the 0-30k band and 21.9% in the 150k+ band, a 11.7-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 13.7% fail against 18.7% for diesel, a 5.0-point gap across 21,665 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 — 16.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.3% | 1,579 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 1,043 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.6% | 998 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.3% | 936 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.6% | 786 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 610 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 799 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 776 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 686 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 638 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 429 |
| 6 | Washers | 351 |
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% | 6,320 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.4% | 4,410 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.9% | 3,887 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.8% | 2,120 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 964 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 937 |
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 | 215 | 10.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,101 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 5,394 | 16.7% |
| 90-120k | 6,392 | 19.0% |
| 120-150k | 4,459 | 20.7% |
| 150k+ | 3,093 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 20,947 | 18.7% |
| Petrol | 718 | 13.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,327 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 4,307 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 4,349 | 18.8% |
| 2024 | 4,357 | 19.8% |
| 2025 | 4,325 | 20.6% |
What to check before buying a 2013 V60
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.6% 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 2013 Volvo V60s pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 21,665 2013 Volvo V60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volvo V60?
Tyres, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.8%).
Does the 2013 V60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,665 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.