Used car guide

2005 Volvo S60: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Volvo S60s, from 1,040 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,040MOT tests in 2025
60%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
6,500typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Volvo S60s than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.7× usual
    Volvo S60
    18.3% All 2005 cars
    10.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 2.3% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Handbrake performance3.3× usual
    Volvo S60
    4% All 2005 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 1.2% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull the handbrake on a slope. It should hold the car within a few clicks.

  • Anti-roll bar4.3× usual
    Volvo S60
    3% All 2005 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.1% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 2.1% here, against 6.9% of all 2005 cars. Brake lights: 2.4% here, against 5.6% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 Volvo S60 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    42% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    41% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    34% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    31% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    12% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    11% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20201,114Tyres 32%
20191,176Tyres 25%
2018875Tyres 32%
20171,083Tyres 31%
20161,162Tyres 35%
20151,209Tyres 33%
20141,333Tyres 33%
20131,366Tyres 35%
20121,653Suspension 40%
20111,702Suspension 35%
2010603Suspension 37%
2007510Suspension 47%
2006816Lights and electrics 38%
2004846Suspension 46%
2003783Suspension 47%
2002540Suspension 52%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Volvo S60s registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score