Used car guide · 1998–2016

Volvo S80 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Volvo S80, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 20,949 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1998 Volvo S80

Too few Volvo S80 cars first registered in 1998 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. 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 S80 as a whole.

48on the UK register at the end of 2025
Dieselfuel type
What to check on a 1998 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

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).

2016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

What usually goes wrong with a Volvo S80?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Volvo S80 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 S80 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 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

    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.

  • Steering rack inner joints

    up to 4.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001, 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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001 and 2002.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001 and 2004.

    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.

Diesel

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints

    up to 3.7× usual

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

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2.6× usual

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

    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 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010 and 2012.

    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.

Volvo S80 MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2010 Volvo S80 did best (72% passed first time, 12 points above all 2010 cars) and the 2005 did worst (61%, 4 points above all 2005 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201687%77% +10521
201580%74% +61,169
201480%70% +101,136
201375%67% +81,237
201271%64% +71,046
201172%62% +101,227
201072%60% +121,719
200970%59% +111,352
200869%57% +121,917
200766%57% +92,248
200666%56% +101,139
200561%57% +41,315
200460%57% +31,286
200360%57% +31,270
200261%58% +31,068
200156%60% -4694
200062%61% +1355 (small sample)
199965%63% +2250 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Volvo S80

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 2.5× as often on the Volvo S80 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the Volvo S80 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the steering rack inner joints? (Flagged at MOT 4.8× as often on the Volvo S80 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volvo S80?

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