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Volvo XC60 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volvo XC60 car check

Is the Volvo XC60 reliable? We analysed 944,286 real MOT tests across 100,002 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 944,286 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
83.0%
Typical Mileage
65,756mi
Annual Mileage
8,092mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
17yrs

The Volvo XC60 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volvo XC60.

Volvo XC60 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Volvo XC60. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Volvo XC60 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Volvo XC60 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

91.5%
2021
90.5%
2020
90%
2019
89.8%
2018
86.9%
2017
83.9%
2016
83.5%
2015
82.2%
2014
81.5%
2013
79.7%
2012
79.5%
2011
79.1%
2010
79.3%
2009
79.6%
2008

Volvo XC60 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Volvo XC60 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 4,822
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 3,337

Volvo XC60 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Volvo XC60 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 17,274
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 7,153
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 3,606

Volvo XC60 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Volvo XC60 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,461 mi/yr
Typical
8,092 mi/yr
Average
9,022 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,373 mi/yr

Volvo XC60 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volvo XC60 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2021 94 91.5% 9,174 25,825 41,647
2020 706 90.5% 24,007 34,696 46,794
2019 31,896 90.0% 27,016 38,989 54,555
2018 65,021 89.8% 30,147 43,703 61,247
2017 115,065 86.9% 34,831 50,594 70,730
2016 131,222 83.9% 38,843 57,075 79,718
2015 129,063 83.5% 44,248 65,130 89,848
2014 103,541 82.2% 49,663 72,702 99,455
2013 67,648 81.5% 50,137 74,802 102,861
2012 72,422 79.7% 54,362 81,408 110,938
2011 74,232 79.5% 56,747 85,993 117,512
2010 78,738 79.1% 58,925 89,421 123,121
2009 62,739 79.3% 59,122 90,717 123,813
2008 6,292 79.6% 59,166 90,886 123,509

How Long Does a Volvo XC60 Last?

Based on 100,002 Volvo XC60 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
9.3 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
17 years

Volvo XC60 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Volvo XC60 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
65,756 mi
75th Percentile
95,563 mi
95th Percentile
146,450 mi
Max Recorded
1,197,321 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volvo XC60

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

Best year
2021

91.5% MOT pass rate from 94 tests

Year to avoid
2010

79.1% MOT pass rate from 78,738 tests

The best year to buy a used Volvo XC60 is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.5% across 94 tests. The 2010 model year has the lowest pass rate at 79.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Volvo XC60 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Volvo XC60 THIS CAR 83.0% 944,286 65,756 mi 17 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
Mitsubishi L200 74.1% 1,362,678 80,302 mi 29 yrs

Compared to the Volvo V70 (71.0% pass rate) and the Volvo V40 (73.7% pass rate), the Volvo XC60 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Volvo XC60?

The Volvo XC60 has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.0% across 944,286 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 4,822 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 XC60 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 XC60 owner drives around 8,092 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 XC60 models stay on UK roads for around 17 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 XC60 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volvo XC60 reliable?
Based on 944,286 MOT tests, the Volvo XC60 has a 83.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Volvo XC60?
The most common failure point is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.
How many miles does a Volvo XC60 do per year?
The typical Volvo XC60 does around 8,092 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volvo XC60 last?
Most Volvo XC60 models stay on UK roads for around 17 years based on our analysis of 100,002 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volvo XC60?
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 XC60?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volvo XC60 is 2021 with a 91.5% pass rate across 94 tests.