Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 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 2012 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 2012 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 2012 Volvo S60 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

46% 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 2012 Volvo S60 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,340 vehicles, the 2012 Volvo S60 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 81.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Volvo S60?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Volvo S60 are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (59.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (45.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (45.1% 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 2012 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 (2012)

2,340 real MOT outcomes analysed • 81.6% first-time pass rate

2012 Volvo S60

CarHunch analysed 2,340 real MOT records for the 2012 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 2012 Volvo S60 passes its MOT on the first attempt 81.5% of the time, fractionally above the UK average of 80%, which suggests broadly average reliability for its age. However, 45.8% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is considerably higher than typical and should give prospective buyers pause—this warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

At a median mileage of 79,488 miles, these nine-year-old cars are running slightly below the expected wear-and-tear threshold, yet they average 2.36 failures per test and accumulate 14 advisories, pointing to niggling issues with wear items and minor systems rather than catastrophic faults. Check the service history carefully and budget for suspension and brake components; the petrol models (84.5% pass rate) are marginally more robust than the diesel variants (81.3%), though the diesel dominates this cohort.

The 2012 Volvo S60 has a decent first-time pass rate (81.6%), 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

81.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

45.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.36

Over 11.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

79k

Middle half: 60k–105k

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 14 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 2,340 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 2,340 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 59.1%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

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

Tyre wear 45.2%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front 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 27.8%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Suspension & steering 25.5%

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded

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 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,340 Volvo S60 cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Volvo S60

Based on MOT data from 2,340 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 45.8% 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 (92%)	2,161	81.3%	2.4
Petrol (8%)	179	85%	1.84

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 2012 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.

79,488

typical

60,349

low mileage

104,514

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Volvo S60 vehicles fall between 60,349 and 104,514 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 60,349 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.

✓ 60,349–104,514 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Volvo S60s sit.

⚠ Over 141,093 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Volvo S60 — Still on the Road

Most 2012 Volvo S60s are still being driven.

1,587 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 71% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

11.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.36

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Volvo →

Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Volvo S60 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing