2020 Volvo V60 — MOT failures & pass rate
10,298 MOT tests on the 2020 Volvo V60 are in this dataset, and 89.8% of them passed. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (10.9% 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
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests against 2.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, tread depth and wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 343 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.7% once past 120-150k — 2.2× the risk.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 9.2% fail against 11.2% for diesel, a 2.1-point gap across 6,846 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.1% of tests failed in 2022 against 10.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 627 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.8% | 287 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 177 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 166 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 58 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 52 |
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 | 343 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 196 |
| 3 | Wipers | 147 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 134 |
| 5 | Headlamp cleaning device | 57 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 49 |
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 | 22.9% | 2,359 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.5% | 1,391 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.0% | 518 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 347 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 126 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 37 |
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 | 3,920 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 4,648 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,297 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 344 | 17.2% |
| 120-150k | 72 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,171 | 11.2% |
| Petrol | 3,452 | 9.7% |
| Hybrid | 2,675 | 9.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 98 | 7.1% |
| 2023 | 3,394 | 9.2% |
| 2024 | 3,371 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 3,421 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a 2020 V60
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.1% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.1% 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.
- Brakes (2.8% 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 (1.7% 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 2020 Volvo V60s pass their MOT?
89.8% of the 10,298 2020 Volvo V60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volvo V60?
Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by brakes (2.8%).
Does the 2020 V60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,298 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.