Used car guide

2017 Volvo S60: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Volvo S60 first registered in 2017: we looked at the 1,083 MOTs these cars had during 2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,083MOTs of 2017 cars, done in 2025
76%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%)
9,300typical miles a year
4.1×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2017 Volvo S60?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2017 Volvo S60 than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints4.1× usual
    Volvo S60
    6.2% All 2017 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 0.8% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Number plate lights2.7× usual
    Volvo S60
    6.5% All 2017 cars
    2.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.7% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.1% here, against 4.8% of all 2017 cars.

Common 2017 Volvo S60 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2017 Volvo S60 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • 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.

  • Brakes
    23% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    14% 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
    7% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    6% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    5% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2017 Volvo S60

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 4.1× as often on the 2017 Volvo S60 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the 2017 Volvo S60 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volvo S60?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Volvo S60 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023–Too new for MOT data
2022378Tyres 23%
2021382Tyres 31%
20201,114Tyres 32%
20191,176Tyres 25%
2018875Tyres 32%
20161,162Tyres 35%
20151,209Tyres 33%
20141,333Tyres 33%
20131,366Tyres 35%
20121,653Suspension 40%
20111,702Suspension 35%
2010603Suspension 37%
2009–Too few tests
2008301Suspension 41%
2007510Suspension 47%
2006816Lights and electrics 38%
20051,040Lights and electrics 42%
2004846Suspension 46%
2003783Suspension 47%
2002540Suspension 52%
2001237Suspension 45%
2000–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, counting the MOTs of Volvo S60 cars first registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score