Volvo S80
From 12,064 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer S80s fare better: 2016 models pass at 92.7% vs 71.3% for 2002.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 454 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 454 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 276 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 274 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 214 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 213 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 212 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 204 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 186 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 179 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 169 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 53.3% of failures are serious: 53.3% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 0% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £93.
Fuel type matters
Diesel versions pass at 77.2% while Petrol versions pass at 70.5%, a 7 percentage point gap.
Volvo S80 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 725 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 11 newly registered, a net loss of 714. At this rate, roughly 11.3 years until none remain. Now at 32.7% of its peak (24,584 in 2009 Q1).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 5,699 | 2,334 | +3 | -185 | -182 |
| 2025 Q2 | 5,892 | 2,323 | +2 | -124 | -122 |
| 2025 Q1 | 6,047 | 2,290 | +5 | -206 | -201 |
| 2024 Q4 | 6,263 | 2,275 | +1 | -210 | -209 |
| 2024 Q3 | 6,441 | 2,306 | +1 | -167 | -166 |
| 2024 Q2 | 6,582 | 2,331 | +2 | -169 | -167 |
| 2024 Q1 | 6,767 | 2,313 | +2 | -202 | -200 |
| 2023 Q4 | 6,999 | 2,281 | +0 | -187 | -187 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| S80 Se Lux D5 Auto | Diesel | 586 | 15% |
| S80 Se D5 Auto | Diesel | 558 | 14% |
| S80 Se Lux D4 Auto | Diesel | 476 | 12% |
| S80 Se D3 Auto | Diesel | 302 | 8% |
| S80 Se A | Diesel | 276 | 7% |
| S80 D5 Se Lux Auto | Diesel | 181 | 5% |
| S80 Executive D5 Auto | Diesel | 161 | 4% |
| S80 Se D5 | Diesel | 158 | 4% |
| S80 Se D | Diesel | 150 | 4% |
| S80 Se (170 Bhp) Auto | Gas | 144 | 4% |
| S80 Auto | Diesel | 127 | 3% |
| S80 Se Nav D2 Auto | Diesel | 123 | 3% |
| S80 Se Lux D3 Auto | Diesel | 107 | 3% |
| S80 Se Sport Auto | Diesel | 95 | 2% |
| S80 Se D2 Auto | Diesel | 89 | 2% |
| S80 2.4 Auto | Petrol | 76 | 2% |
| S80 Se D Drive | Diesel | 75 | 2% |
| S80 | Petrol | 71 | 2% |
| S80 2.4 Se Auto | Petrol | 71 | 2% |
| S80 Se Lux D5 | Diesel | 70 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 92.7% | steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 83.5% | a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2014 | 83.1% | smoke opacity levels exceed default limit, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2013 | 81.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
14 earlier years
| 2012 | 78.5% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2011 | 75.2% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2010 | 80.3% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2009 | 75.5% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2008 | 77.1% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2007 | 73.7% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2006 | 75.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2005 | 68.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 68.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2003 | 69.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2002 | 71.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2001 | 64.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2000 | 61.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1999 | 72.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged |
Typical mileage
Half of all S80s tested had between 76,881 and 153,983 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 112,130 median miles, the S80 has 0.022 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Volvo models
| Volvo Xc60 | 82.7% |
| Volvo V40 | 79% |
| Volvo Xc90 | 78% |
| Volvo Xc40 | 91.2% |
| Volvo V70 | 72% |
Common questions
What is the Volvo S80 MOT pass rate?
The Volvo S80 has a 75.4% MOT pass rate based on 12,064 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volvo S80?
The most common MOT failure on the Volvo S80 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 454 failures. Other common issues include a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
How many Volvo S80s are on UK roads?
There are 5,699 Volvo S80s currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,334 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volvo S80 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volvo S80 is 112,130 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 76,881 and 153,983 miles.
Buying a used S80?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 75.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £93 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.