2005 · 19 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2005 Volvo S80 MOT pass rate and common faults

442 MOT tests in 2024. 59.7% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

106Above average
Passed first time59.7%
Failed or needed repairs40.3%
Typical mileage at test138,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 442 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working7.5%
  2. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play5.2%
  3. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements4.8%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value4.1%
    20 marked dangerous
  5. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side3.2%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.9%
    21 marked dangerous
  7. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.7%
  8. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.7%
  9. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.7%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Brakes26.5%
  2. Lights & electrics26.2%
  3. Suspension12.0%
  4. Tyres7.7%
  5. Steering6.8%
  6. Body & chassis5.2%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.8%
  8. Emissions & leaks3.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn17.2%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.0%
  3. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened12.0%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.3%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.2%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2005 Volvo S80?

In 2024, 59.7% of 2005 Volvo S80 cars passed their MOT first time, across 442 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 Volvo S80?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2005 Volvo S80 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 106, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).