2018 Volvo V60 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Volvo V60 passed 88.8% of its 21,658 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail 12.3% of the time, so this is 1.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.2%) and brakes (3.2%) 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 757 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.3% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 10.9% of the time against 11.2% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.2% | 1,346 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.2% | 698 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 510 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.0% | 431 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 174 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 154 |
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 | 757 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 513 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 350 |
| 4 | Wipers | 333 |
| 5 | Washers | 160 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 150 |
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 | 23.6% | 5,103 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.7% | 3,406 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.7% | 1,443 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 663 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.0% | 432 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 410 |
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 | 5,535 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 9,733 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 4,428 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,429 | 14.0% |
| 120-150k | 366 | 16.1% |
| 150k+ | 166 | 16.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,902 | 11.2% |
| Petrol | 4,756 | 10.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,228 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 4,343 | 10.7% |
| 2023 | 4,344 | 11.5% |
| 2024 | 4,373 | 12.2% |
| 2025 | 4,370 | 12.4% |
What to check before buying a 2018 V60
On a 2018 V60, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.2% 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 (3.2% 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 (2.4% 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 2018 Volvo V60s pass their MOT?
88.8% of the 21,658 2018 Volvo V60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Volvo V60?
Tyres, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by brakes (3.2%).
Does the 2018 V60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 16.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,658 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.