Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Volvo S60?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 Volvo S60?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 Volvo S60?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2004 Volvo S60 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

39% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2004 Volvo S60 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,701 vehicles, the 2004 Volvo S60 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Volvo S60?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Volvo S60 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (78.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (77% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (53.7% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Volvo S60?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Volvo S60 (2004)

5,701 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.5% first-time pass rate

2004 Volvo S60

CarHunch analysed 5,701 real MOT records for the 2004 Volvo S60. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Volvo S60 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.4%, which sits noticeably below the UK average of 80%—a meaningful gap that suggests reliability challenges for this generation. More concerning, 39.3% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above the danger threshold and a serious red flag for prospective buyers.

These S60s are running at a median mileage of 107,602 miles, which is reasonable for their age, but they're averaging 4.83 failures and 20.4 advisories per test, indicating corrosion, component wear, and electrical gremlins are rife. Before purchasing one, have a trusted mechanic inspect the suspension, cooling system, and electrical architecture; this model demands hands-on vetting rather than trust in badge alone.

The 2004 Volvo S60 has a below-average first-time pass rate (72.5% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

72.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

39.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.83

Over 16.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

108k

Middle half: 86k–131k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 20.4 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 5,701 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 5,701 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 78.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 38.3%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Parking brake lever has little reserve travel · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 33.5%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Suspension & steering 30.5%

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Lighting 27.4%

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working · Offside Front position lamp(s) not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,701 Volvo S60 cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Volvo S60

Based on MOT data from 5,701 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 39.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (64%)	3,625	72.3%	4.79
Petrol (36%)	2,052	72.7%	4.88

Colour Breakdown

Based on 53,916 Volvo S60 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 22.9%

12,359

Silver 20.2%

10,875

Black 17.2%

9,295

Grey 11.3%

6,116

Gold 9.1%

4,889

Red 8.4%

4,522

Green 5.4%

2,890

White 3.9%

2,094

Yellow 0.9%

476

Bronze 0.4%

215

Purple 0.3%

173

Maroon 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Volvo S60 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

107,602

typical

86,180

low mileage

131,133

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Volvo S60 vehicles fall between 86,180 and 131,133 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 86,180 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 86,180–131,133 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Volvo S60s sit.

⚠ Over 177,029 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Volvo S60 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 18% of 2004 Volvo S60s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 818 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (18% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

16.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.83

Avg failures per vehicle

20.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Volvo S60: All S60 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on