2017 Volvo XC60 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Volvo XC60 passed 88.3% of its 83,512 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail at 11.8%, so the 2017 XC60 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and lighting & signalling (3.7%) 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 coil spring — brake pads alone was recorded 2,780 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.4% versus 6.7%.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 3.9pp more often than petrol ones (14.2% vs 10.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 3,770 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 3,067 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.4% | 2,818 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.2% | 1,802 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 1,451 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.9% | 706 |
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 | 2,780 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,902 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,507 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,224 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,056 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 750 |
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 | 24.8% | 20,746 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.0% | 15,877 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.0% | 6,705 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.5% | 3,736 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 3,661 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 2,305 |
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 | 9,880 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 39,716 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 24,378 | 14.0% |
| 90-120k | 7,399 | 16.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,621 | 17.7% |
| 150k+ | 494 | 18.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 75,311 | 11.8% |
| Petrol | 7,224 | 10.3% |
| Hybrid | 977 | 14.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,390 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 16,430 | 9.9% |
| 2023 | 16,692 | 11.8% |
| 2024 | 16,927 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 17,073 | 14.5% |
What to check before buying a 2017 XC60
On a 2017 XC60, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.5% 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 (3.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.4% 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 2017 Volvo XC60s pass their MOT?
88.3% of the 83,512 2017 Volvo XC60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Volvo XC60?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.7%).
Does the 2017 XC60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 18.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 83,512 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.