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Volvo V60 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volvo V60 car check

Is the Volvo V60 reliable? We analysed 342,864 real MOT tests across 35,885 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 342,864 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
81.9%
Typical Mileage
72,706mi
Annual Mileage
8,252mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
16yrs

The Volvo V60 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volvo V60.

Volvo V60 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Volvo V60. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Volvo V60 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Volvo V60 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

87.6%
2020
87.1%
2019
86.7%
2018
84.1%
2017
83.7%
2016
83.2%
2015
81.9%
2014
81.2%
2013
78.6%
2012
79.6%
2011
80.8%
2010
75.4%
2006
70.7%
2002

Volvo V60 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Volvo V60 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,019
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1,756

Volvo V60 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Volvo V60 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 7,272
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 2,761
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 1,732
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1,583
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 1,549
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1,229

Volvo V60 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Volvo V60 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,351 mi/yr
Typical
8,252 mi/yr
Average
9,395 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,940 mi/yr

Volvo V60 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volvo V60 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2020 145 87.6% 23,312 35,173 49,966
2019 17,895 87.1% 29,404 43,783 62,932
2018 23,670 86.7% 30,360 45,797 66,261
2017 25,034 84.1% 37,532 57,973 84,355
2016 33,705 83.7% 42,579 64,396 91,160
2015 33,751 83.2% 46,551 70,490 100,000
2014 43,162 81.9% 52,366 79,390 110,016
2013 47,072 81.2% 54,965 83,042 115,212
2012 69,301 78.6% 56,166 84,408 115,861
2011 42,747 79.6% 58,210 88,208 121,260
2010 4,207 80.8% 53,368 81,879 111,862
2006 57 75.4% 68,882 97,402 112,493
2002 58 70.7% 70,078 96,553 116,496

How Long Does a Volvo V60 Last?

Based on 35,885 Volvo V60 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
9.4 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
16 years

Volvo V60 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Volvo V60 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
72,706 mi
75th Percentile
105,067 mi
95th Percentile
156,934 mi
Max Recorded
1,111,374 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volvo V60

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2020

87.6% MOT pass rate from 145 tests

Year to avoid
2002

70.7% MOT pass rate from 58 tests

The best year to buy a used Volvo V60 is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.6% across 145 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Volvo V60 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Volvo V60 THIS CAR 81.9% 342,864 72,706 mi 16 yrs
Volvo V70 71% 1,930,508 113,181 mi 29 yrs
Volvo V40 73.7% 1,865,374 76,415 mi 30 yrs
Volvo S40 69.9% 1,390,271 84,701 mi 30 yrs
Citroen Grand C4 Picasso 69.2% 139,377 68,926 mi 19 yrs

Compared to the Volvo V70 (71.0% pass rate) and the Volvo V40 (73.7% pass rate), the Volvo V60 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Volvo V60?

The Volvo V60 has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.9% across 342,864 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common failure point is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm with 2,019 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Volvo V60 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Volvo V60 owner drives around 8,252 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Volvo V60 models stay on UK roads for around 16 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Volvo V60 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volvo V60 reliable?
Based on 342,864 MOT tests, the Volvo V60 has a 81.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Volvo V60?
The most common failure point is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.
How many miles does a Volvo V60 do per year?
The typical Volvo V60 does around 8,252 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volvo V60 last?
Most Volvo V60 models stay on UK roads for around 16 years based on our analysis of 35,885 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volvo V60?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Volvo V60?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volvo V60 is 2020 with a 87.6% pass rate across 145 tests.