Volvo
S60 R Design + T5 Auto
1,858 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where S60 R Design + T5 Autos pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 9.3 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
86.8%
Pass-after-fix
2.8%
Fail
9.6%
Avg miles
36,038
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars first registered from January 2006 meet Euro 4 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
The picture
S60 R-Design + T5 Auto: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,034 MOT tests, the S60 R-Design + T5 Auto returns 89.3% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. Brake pads worn below 1.5 mm and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 28,075, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 28–40
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
28–40
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A tyre seriously damaged
36 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 02
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
35 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 03
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
25 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 04
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
21 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 05
Wiper blade defective
19 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 06
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
16 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 07
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
14 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 08
A tyre cords visible or damaged
13 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 09
A tyre seriously damaged
9 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 10
Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
9 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£100–£205
If every one of this S60 R Design + T5 Auto's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Brake pad measurement gauge
Testers fail pads under 1.5mm. A wear gauge tells you if you've got two months left or two weeks.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Hycote
Hycote Volvo Black Stone Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Volvo Ice White Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Autotek
Autotek Volvo Dark Grey 228 300ml
£14.29
View at My Motor World →
Autotek
Autotek Volvo Ice White 300ml
£14.29
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Owner reports · Honest John
What owners actually report.
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
What's good
Excellent range and performance from the plug-in hybrid model. Comfortable and spacious interior feels truly plush. Plenty of high-end technology included as standard.
Where it falls short
Driving experience feels a bit remote. No diesel engines available. Can get expensive.
Buying or keeping an S60 R Design + T5 Auto?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own an S60 R Design + T5 Auto and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.