2009 Volvo XC60 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Volvo XC60 passed 79.4% of its 19,074 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 26.3% of the time, so this is 5.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.7%) and lighting & signalling (9.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 1,190 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.5% versus 6.8%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.7% | 1,853 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 1,840 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.6% | 876 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.4% | 842 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 578 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 395 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,190 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 841 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 646 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 508 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 438 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 387 |
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 | 26.1% | 4,978 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.9% | 4,562 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.1% | 3,649 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.3% | 1,966 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 1,829 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 854 |
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 | 59 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 507 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,282 | 15.2% |
| 90-120k | 5,576 | 19.5% |
| 120-150k | 5,894 | 22.1% |
| 150k+ | 4,752 | 23.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 18,773 | 20.6% |
| Petrol | 292 | 19.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,059 | 19.6% |
| 2022 | 4,039 | 19.9% |
| 2023 | 3,857 | 20.5% |
| 2024 | 3,644 | 20.6% |
| 2025 | 3,475 | 22.7% |
What to check before buying a 2009 XC60
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (9.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.6% 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.
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 2009 Volvo XC60s pass their MOT?
79.4% of the 19,074 2009 Volvo XC60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volvo XC60?
Suspension, recorded in 9.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.7%).
Does the 2009 XC60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,074 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.