2014 Volvo XC60 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Volvo XC60 passed 82.3% of its 53,395 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (18.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.3%) and lighting & signalling (5.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and brake pads — coil spring alone was recorded 3,862 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.0% versus 9.1%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.3% | 3,899 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 2,954 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.8% | 2,582 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.5% | 1,883 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.3% | 1,229 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 1,147 |
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 | 3,862 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,743 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,395 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 1,299 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,270 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 944 |
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 | 25.1% | 13,391 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.4% | 9,830 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.1% | 4,881 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.7% | 4,648 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 2,466 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 2,024 |
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 | 538 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 7,655 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 19,363 | 17.0% |
| 90-120k | 15,847 | 18.9% |
| 120-150k | 7,087 | 20.8% |
| 150k+ | 2,880 | 21.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 53,079 | 17.7% |
| Petrol | 316 | 14.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,389 | 14.9% |
| 2022 | 10,713 | 17.0% |
| 2023 | 10,897 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 10,681 | 18.2% |
| 2025 | 10,715 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a 2014 XC60
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.3% 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 (5.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.8% 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.
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 2014 Volvo XC60s pass their MOT?
82.3% of the 53,395 2014 Volvo XC60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Volvo XC60?
Suspension, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.5%).
Does the 2014 XC60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 0-30k band to 21.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 53,395 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.