2019 Volvo XC60 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 49,683 MOT tests, the 2019 Volvo XC60 recorded a 91.1% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail at 9.5%, so the 2019 XC60 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.7%) and brakes (3.4%) 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 wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 1,852 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.0% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 8.1% of the time against 9.0% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.7% | 2,308 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.4% | 1,696 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.6% | 785 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 407 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 209 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 165 |
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 | 1,852 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 771 |
| 3 | Wipers | 688 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 291 |
| 5 | Washers | 175 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 170 |
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 | 23.2% | 11,522 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.1% | 8,496 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.9% | 3,430 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,648 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.3% | 1,144 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 264 |
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 | 16,453 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 25,199 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 6,617 | 10.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,140 | 12.1% |
| 120-150k | 226 | 13.7% |
| 150k+ | 46 | 13.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 23,605 | 8.9% |
| Petrol | 21,928 | 9.0% |
| Hybrid | 4,150 | 8.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 299 | 6.0% |
| 2022 | 12,430 | 7.9% |
| 2023 | 12,402 | 9.0% |
| 2024 | 12,244 | 9.2% |
| 2025 | 12,308 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a 2019 XC60
On a 2019 XC60, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.7% 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 (3.4% 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.
- Visibility (1.6% 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 2019 Volvo XC60s pass their MOT?
91.1% of the 49,683 2019 Volvo XC60 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Volvo XC60?
Tyres, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by brakes (3.4%).
Does the 2019 XC60 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 13.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 49,683 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.