MOT fail rates by first-use year
2004 Volvo S60 MOT fail rate and common faults
How Volvo S60 cars first used in 2004 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2024, against all cars of the same age. From 4,080 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 20 years, tested in 2024
What stands out
- In 2024, at 20 years old, Volvo S60 cars first used in 2004 failed 41.9% of MOTs (1,118 tests), about the same as the 42.8% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2024, as these cars went from 18 to 20 years old, the fail rate moved from 43.7% to 41.9%.
- Volvo S60 cars first used a year earlier, in 2003, failed 43.8% at the same age of 20 years (1,116 tests, in 2023).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Volvo S60 at 20 years, is handbrake too weak, at 5.6 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 2.8).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 18 years | 43.7% | 1,617 | 43.3% | +0.4 pts |
| 2023 | 19 years | 41.9% | 1,345 | 43.2% | −1.3 pts |
| 2024 | 20 years | 41.9% | 1,118 | 42.8% | −0.9 pts |
Most common faults at 20 years
These figures cover all Volvo S60 MOTs at 20 years: cars first used 2002 to 2005, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,267). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Side/position light not working Wear | 9.9 | 5.2 |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear | 6.0 | 4.0 |
| Handbrake too weak | 5.6 | 2.8 |
| Rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 3.4 | 0.8 |
| Suspension arm bush worn | 3.4 | 2.1 |
| Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side | 3.2 | 1.2 |
| Dipped headlight not working Wear | 3.1 | 1.9 |
| Steering track rod end: ball joint play | 3.0 | 2.0 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 2.8 | 2.6 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Wear | 2.7 | 1.9 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=4,267). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 17.1 | 15.7 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 16.3 | 7.7 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 12.3 | 10.7 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 11.0 | 8.0 |
| Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s) | 9.2 | 3.6 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 8.7 | 14.1 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear | 8.6 | 5.4 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 7.7 | 10.2 |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Wear | 6.7 | 6.2 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 6.0 | 5.7 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=4,267). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 20 years
These figures cover all Volvo S60 MOTs at 20 years: cars first used 2002 to 2005, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,267). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 51.5% | 41.4% | 2,192 | 42.5% | 114,254 miles |
| Diesel | 48.5% | 41.7% | 2,062 | 43.6% | 152,097 miles |
Car tax rules for a 2004 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Many petrol cars first registered from 2001 to 2005 already meet Euro 4, but not all of them. For a 2004 petrol car the Euro standard of that car decides.
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2004 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Volvo S60
Other Volvo models first used in 2004
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo V70 (2004) | 21 years in 2025 | 45.3% | 2,517 | 42.1% |
| Volvo XC90 (2004) | 21 years in 2025 | 43.5% | 1,566 | 42.1% |
| Volvo S40 (2004) | 20 years in 2024 | 47.0% | 1,149 | 42.8% |
| Volvo V50 (2004) | 19 years in 2023 | 46.3% | 1,036 | 43.2% |
More on the Volvo S60
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2004 Volvo S60 cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.