Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 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 2008 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 2008 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 2008 Volvo S60 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

40% 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 2008 Volvo S60 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 695 vehicles, the 2008 Volvo S60 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Volvo S60?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Volvo S60 are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (55% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (54.9% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (45.6% 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 2008 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 (2008)

695 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.9% first-time pass rate

2008 Volvo S60

CarHunch analysed 695 real MOT records for the 2008 Volvo S60. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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 2008 Volvo S60 passes its MOT first time in 75.9% of cases, which is 4 points below the UK average and a genuine reliability concern—but the real warning sign is that 40.4% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above acceptable thresholds for a buyer considering one. Diesel and petrol variants perform nearly identically (75.4% vs 76.9% pass rates), so fuel type won't be your deciding factor here.

These S60s are averaging 94,000 miles, which is reasonable for their age, yet they're racking up an average of 3.89 failures per test and 18.1 advisories, indicating worn componentry across the board. If you're seriously interested in a 2008 S60, budget for regular suspension and electrical work, obtain a full service history, and have a trusted mechanic inspect the brakes, steering, and cooling system before you commit.

The 2008 Volvo S60 has a decent first-time pass rate (75.9%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

75.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

40.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.89

Over 15.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

98k

Middle half: 76k–120k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 18.1 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 695 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 695 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 55%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside 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.

Other issues 36.8%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Oil leak, but not excessive

Brake wear 30.1%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Parking brake efficiency below requirements · …

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

Suspension & steering 23.9%

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 695 Volvo S60 cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Volvo S60

Based on MOT data from 695 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 40.4% 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 (66%)	462	75.4%	3.97
Petrol (33%)	231	76.9%	3.73

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 2008 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.

97,673

typical

76,488

low mileage

120,051

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Volvo S60 vehicles fall between 76,488 and 120,051 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 76,488 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.

✓ 76,488–120,051 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Volvo S60s sit.

⚠ Over 162,068 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Volvo S60 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 45% of 2008 Volvo S60s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 288 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (45% 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

15.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.89

Avg failures per vehicle

18.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Volvo →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Volvo S60 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing