Used car guide

2020 Volvo S60: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2020 Volvo S60s, from 1,114 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,114MOT tests in 2025
88%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%)
7,600typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2020 Volvo S60s than on all cars registered in 2020.

  • Shock absorbers2.2× usual
    Volvo S60
    4.3% All 2020 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.3% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Better than most

Brake discs: 3.5% here, against 9% of all 2020 cars.

By area

The share of 2020 Volvo S60 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    32% 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.

  • Brakes
    15% 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.

  • Suspension
    5% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Lights and electrics
    2% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
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%
20051,040Lights and electrics 42%
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 2020 Volvo S60s registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score