Volvo S80 (2005)
2005 Volvo S80
CarHunch analysed 1,719 real MOT records for the 2005 Volvo S80. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2005 Volvo S80 passes its MOT first time at 75.5%, which is noticeably below the UK average of 80%—and here's the real concern: nearly one in three of these cars (33.1%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is substantially higher than typical and should give buyers pause. Diesel and petrol variants perform identically, both at 75.5%, so fuel choice won't improve your odds here.
These S80s are running at 110,607 miles on average, which is reasonable for their age, but they're racking up an average of 4.21 failures and 18.7 advisories per test—a sign of widespread wear across multiple systems rather than one or two problem areas. Before committing to purchase, have a pre-buy inspection focus on the brake and suspension systems, which dominate the failure patterns on this model, and factor in the likelihood of ongoing maintenance costs.
What to check before buying a 2005 Volvo S80
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 33.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Volvo S80
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (83%) | 1,420 | 75.6% | 4.2 |
| Petrol (17%) | 290 | 75.5% | 4.28 |
| LPG (0%) | 7 | 76.6% | 3.29 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 50% | 1 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 1 | 55.6% | 8 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2005 Volvo S80 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2005 Volvo S80 vehicles fall between 87,559 and 135,506 miles.
2005 Volvo S80 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 351 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (25% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2005 Volvo S80
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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76%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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74.4%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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54.4%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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51.4%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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37.6%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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31.7%
Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
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29.4%
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
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29%
Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2005. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Volvo S80?
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