2021 Volvo V60 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,068 MOT tests, the 2021 Volvo V60 recorded a 90.6% pass rate. Against large family cars of a similar age (10.5% fail rate), the 2021 V60 comes out 1.0pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 6.5% of all tests — 4.3 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp cleaning device and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 142 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 V60 fails 7.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.1% at 120-150k, a spread of only 1.1 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 9.3% of the time against 10.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.6% of tests failed in 2023 against 9.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.5% | 526 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 179 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.8% | 146 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.6% | 49 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.6% | 49 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.1% | 12 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 142 |
| 2 | Headlamp cleaning device | 119 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 114 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 96 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 61 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 38 |
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 | 24.7% | 1,995 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.9% | 553 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.6% | 450 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.9% | 312 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 78 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 40 |
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 | 3,177 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,831 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 833 | 12.0% |
| 90-120k | 180 | 13.3% |
| 120-150k | 37 | 8.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 6,636 | 9.3% |
| Diesel | 1,356 | 10.3% |
| Petrol | 76 | 7.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 121 | 6.6% |
| 2024 | 3,935 | 9.2% |
| 2025 | 3,999 | 9.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 V60
On a 2021 V60, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.5% 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 (2.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2021 Volvo V60s pass their MOT?
90.6% of the 8,068 2021 Volvo V60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volvo V60?
Tyres, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.2%).
Does the 2021 V60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 8.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,068 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.