2017 Volvo V60 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Volvo V60 passed 86.1% of its 18,390 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (13.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.8%) and brakes (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, tread depth and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 678 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.8% versus 6.2%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 11.7% fail against 14.3% for diesel, a 2.6-point gap across 18,385 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.8% | 1,252 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.9% | 709 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 682 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 426 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 394 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 246 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 678 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 555 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 413 |
| 4 | Joints | 402 |
| 5 | Washers | 242 |
| 6 | Wipers | 242 |
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 | 26.0% | 4,782 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.9% | 3,470 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.7% | 1,424 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 1,017 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.4% | 616 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 523 |
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 | 2,229 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 6,681 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 5,315 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,733 | 19.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,040 | 20.7% |
| 150k+ | 385 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 15,149 | 14.3% |
| Petrol | 3,236 | 11.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,581 | 9.8% |
| 2022 | 3,600 | 11.8% |
| 2023 | 3,677 | 13.8% |
| 2024 | 3,741 | 16.1% |
| 2025 | 3,791 | 17.5% |
What to check before buying a 2017 V60
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.8% 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 (3.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.7% 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 2017 Volvo V60s pass their MOT?
86.1% of the 18,390 2017 Volvo V60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Volvo V60?
Tyres, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by brakes (3.9%).
Does the 2017 V60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 20.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,390 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.