Volvo XC60 Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Volvo XC60 fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 165,923 MOT tests across 14 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: premium | Fuel: Petrol, Diesel
86%
Volvo XC60 pass rate
87%
Volvo average
82%
All-model average
The Volvo XC60 has an average MOT pass rate of 86%, which is 1 point below the Volvo average and 4 points above the average across all models in our data. Newer Volvo XC60s pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 8 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Volvo XC60 Fails Its MOT On
Of the 20,617 MOT tests on the Volvo XC60 that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Suspension
34%Cars and vans the same age: 32% · Typical repair £150-£600
Lights and electrics
29%Cars and vans the same age: 35% · Typical repair £15-£200
Tyres
23%Cars and vans the same age: 24% · Typical repair £50-£300
Brakes
18%Cars and vans the same age: 21% · Typical repair £80-£450
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
9.7%Cars and vans the same age: 15% (the XC60 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Coil spring: fractured or broken (25% of failed tests, suspension)
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick (12% of failed tests, brakes)
- Tyre tread depth below the 1.6mm limit (9.3% of failed tests, tyres)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Volvo XC60 Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each XC60 year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Volvo XC60 Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Diesel | 2.0L | 95% | 5% | - |
| 2020 | Petrol | 2.0L | 92% | 6% | - |
| 2019 | Petrol | 2.0L | 92% | 8% | 91% (+1) |
| 2018 | Petrol | 2.0L | 91% | 8% | 89% (+2) |
| 2017 | Petrol | 2.0L | 88% | 12% | 87% (+1) |
| 2016 | Petrol | 2.0L | 86% | 14% | 86% (0) |
| 2015 | Diesel | 2.0L | 85% | 15% | 84% (+1) |
| 2014 | Diesel | 2.0L | 84% | 16% | 82% (+2) |
| 2013 | Diesel | 2.0L | 83% | 16% | 80% (+3) |
| 2012 | Petrol | 3.0L | 82% | 18% | 79% (+3) |
| 2011 | Petrol | 3.0L | 81% | 19% | 77% (+4) |
| 2010 | Diesel | 2.0L | 81% | 19% | 75% (+6) |
| 2009 | Petrol | 3.0L | 81% | 19% | 75% (+6) |
| 2008 | Diesel | 2.4L | 76% | 24% | - |
Volvo XC60 Running Costs
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Volvo XC60 FAQ
What are the most common Volvo XC60 problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Volvo XC60 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (34% of the 20,617 failed tests), lights and electrics (29%) and tyres (23%). The single most common fault was "Coil spring: fractured or broken" (25%). Across 165,923 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 86% ended in a pass.
Is the Volvo XC60 reliable?
The Volvo XC60 has an average MOT pass rate of 86%, from 165,923 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 2 points of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Volvo XC60 years should I avoid?
No Volvo XC60 year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). The years that passed most often for their age were the 2010 (81% of 7,990 tests passed, against 75% for all 2010 cars), the 2009 (81% of 5,740 tests passed, against 75% for all 2009 cars) and the 2011 (81% of 8,503 tests passed, against 77% for all 2011 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Volvo XC60 faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Volvo XC60 typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Volvo Models
Common problems pages for other Volvo models