2014 Volvo V60 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Volvo V60 passed 82.6% of its 21,928 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail 18.7% of the time, so this is 1.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 7.4% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 705 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.6% versus 12.5%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 6.9pp more often than petrol ones (17.6% vs 10.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.4% | 1,624 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.3% | 939 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 936 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 748 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.0% | 663 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 540 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 705 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 677 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 633 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 470 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 423 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 353 |
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 | 28.1% | 6,170 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.8% | 4,344 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.1% | 2,652 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.3% | 2,043 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 948 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 914 |
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 | 304 | 12.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,038 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 6,195 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 6,141 | 17.8% |
| 120-150k | 3,932 | 19.7% |
| 150k+ | 2,295 | 20.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 21,302 | 17.6% |
| Petrol | 606 | 10.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,356 | 14.7% |
| 2022 | 4,418 | 16.4% |
| 2023 | 4,419 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 4,361 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 4,374 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a 2014 V60
On a 2014 V60, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.4% 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.
- Brakes (4.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2014 Volvo V60s pass their MOT?
82.6% of the 21,928 2014 Volvo V60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Volvo V60?
Tyres, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by brakes (4.3%).
Does the 2014 V60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 0-30k band to 20.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,928 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.