2011 Volvo V60 MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 68.0% of Volvo V60s first used in 2011 passed their MOT first time, against 61.2% for all cars first used in 2011. Across 7,495 V60 first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, tyres and suspension.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Volvo V60s first used in 2011 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
68.0%
of 2,374 first tests; all cars first used in 2011: 61.2%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
7,495
first tests, 2023–2025; 2,374 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
27.9%
of 2,374 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
127,000
middle half: 101,000–157,500 miles; all cars first used in 2011: 98,000

How the 2011 Volvo V60 MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, V60s first used in 2011 against all cars first used in 2011 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the V60 figure was 6.8 points higher.

2011 V60All cars first used in 2011
60%70%80%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2011, test year 2021: 65.8%All cars first used in 2011, test year 2022: 64.5%All cars first used in 2011, test year 2023: 63%All cars first used in 2011, test year 2024: 61.8%All cars first used in 2011, test year 2025: 61.2%2011 V60, test year 2021: 71.9%2011 V60, test year 2022: 70.8%2011 V60, test year 2023: 69.4%2011 V60, test year 2024: 67.1%2011 V60, test year 2025: 68%68%61.2%
View this chart as a table
Test year2011 V60All cars first used 2011V60 first tests
202171.9%65.8%2,685
202270.8%64.5%2,654
202369.4%63.0%2,605
202467.1%61.8%2,516
202568.0%61.2%2,374

Common 2011 Volvo V60 MOT failures

Share of the 2,384 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment32.6%
Tyres27.6%
Suspension27.4%
Brakes24.3%
Visibility15.1%
Steering12.2%
Noise, emissions and leaks5.4%
Body, chassis, structure5.2%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick12.0%287
Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed9.4%225
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm8.7%208
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak7.6%182
Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play7.1%169

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a V60 in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leakShock absorber replacement£300£200–£500

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2011 Volvo V60 before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  3. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.

Common 2011 Volvo V60 MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2011 V60s, as a share of all 7,495 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge22.3%1,671
Brake pads: wearing thin11.0%822
Coil spring: corroded10.5%789
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened9.0%678
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement7.0%523

Questions about the 2011 Volvo V60 MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2011 Volvo V60?

In 2025, 68.0% of V60s first used in 2011 passed their MOT first time, against 61.2% for all cars first used in 2011. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2011 V60 most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 32.6% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (27.6%) and suspension (27.4%). The single most common item was “Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick” (12.0%).

How often does a 2011 Volvo V60 fail its MOT?

In 2025, 32.0% of first tests on V60s first used in 2011 did not pass first time: 26.5% failed, and a further 5.4% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 2,384 of 7,495 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2011 Volvo V60 MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 22.3% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (11.0%), “Coil spring: corroded” (10.5%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (9.0%) and “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (7.0%).

Is a 2011 Volvo V60 reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 71.9% in 2021 to 68.0% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2011

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2011 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2011 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2011 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2011 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2011 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics

How the 2011 Volvo V60 MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2011 V60” means a Volvo V60 whose date of first use falls in 2011 (60, 11 and 61 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2011, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.