Used car guide · 2000–2026

Volvo S60 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Volvo S60, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 60,517 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 2023 Volvo S60

Cars registered in 2023 haven’t had their first MOT yet (it’s due at 3 years old), so there are no MOT results to show. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Volvo S60 as a whole.

362on the UK register at the end of 2025
2026first MOT due
Dieselmost common fuel (also petrol)
What to check on a 2023 car
  • Warranty left

    Ask for the date it was first registered and check how much of the maker’s warranty is left, and that it transfers to you. Electric and hybrid batteries usually have a longer, separate warranty.

  • Servicing

    Servicing on time with the maker’s schedule keeps the warranty valid. Ask for the service book or the dealer’s digital record.

  • Finance

    Nearly new cars are often still on finance. A history check shows outstanding finance, and whether it has been written off or stolen.

  • Recalls

    Ask whether any recall work has been done, and check the reg on GOV.UK’s free recall checker.

  • Logbook (V5C)

    The name and address should match the seller, and the VIN on the V5C should match the car.

Check for recalls on GOV.UK

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20262024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000

What usually goes wrong with a Volvo S60?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Volvo S60 in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Volvo S60 MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Handbrake performance

    up to 3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £80–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull the handbrake on a slope. It should hold the car within a few clicks.

  • Steering rack inner joints

    up to 5.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002 and 2003.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Number plate lights

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2018.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Individual direction indicators

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002 and 2003.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Sidelights

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002 and 2004.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Diesel

  • Number plate lights

    up to 4.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Individual direction indicators

    up to 7.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2015 and 2016.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 4.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Handbrake performance

    up to 3.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

    Rough price £80–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull the handbrake on a slope. It should hold the car within a few clicks.

  • Sidelights

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Hybrid

  • Tyre condition

    up to 1.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2021.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges. Uneven wear can point to tracking or suspension problems.

Volvo S60 MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2010 Volvo S60 did best (73% passed first time, 13 points above all 2010 cars) and the 2018 did worst (82%, 1 point below all 2018 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202294%89% +5392 (small sample)
202190%87% +3732
202088%87% +13,306
201987%85% +23,416
201882%83% -12,601
201779%80% -13,207
201677%77% +03,497
201576%74% +23,695
201475%70% +54,164
201373%67% +64,237
201269%64% +55,225
201171%62% +95,430
201073%60% +131,901
200964%59% +5166 (small sample)
200862%57% +51,013
200760%57% +31,790
200661%56% +52,963
200561%57% +43,849
200458%57% +13,292
200357%57% +02,794
200260%58% +21,992
200156%60% -4855

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Volvo S60

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the Volvo S60 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the handbrake performance? (Flagged at MOT 3.4× as often on the Volvo S60 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the individual direction indicators? (Flagged at MOT 6.9× as often on the Volvo S60 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volvo S60?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score