2018 Volvo XC60 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Volvo XC60 passed 91.3% of its 59,133 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.5 percentage points better than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 10.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.2%) and brakes (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 2,044 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 XC60 fails 6.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.5 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 8.3% of the time against 8.8% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 2,455 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.2% | 1,884 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.8% | 1,077 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 638 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 382 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 222 |
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 | 2,044 |
| 2 | Wipers | 958 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 825 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 350 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 344 |
| 6 | Washers | 225 |
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 | 22.1% | 13,066 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 9,726 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.0% | 4,139 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,959 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.1% | 1,815 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.0% | 590 |
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 | 15,280 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 29,515 | 9.0% |
| 60-90k | 11,460 | 10.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,389 | 11.6% |
| 120-150k | 401 | 13.0% |
| 150k+ | 84 | 9.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 37,269 | 8.8% |
| Petrol | 17,288 | 8.6% |
| Hybrid | 4,576 | 8.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,827 | 7.5% |
| 2022 | 11,794 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | 11,827 | 8.7% |
| 2024 | 11,847 | 9.6% |
| 2025 | 11,838 | 9.8% |
What to check before buying a 2018 XC60
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.2% 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 (3.2% 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.
- 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 2018 Volvo XC60s pass their MOT?
91.3% of the 59,133 2018 Volvo XC60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Volvo XC60?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by brakes (3.2%).
Does the 2018 XC60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 9.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 59,133 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.