Volvo S80 (2005)
2005 Volvo S80
CarHunch analysed 1,719 real MOT records for the 2005 Volvo S80.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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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.
The 2005 Volvo S80 has a decent first-time pass rate (75.6%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.
These stats describe 1,719 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.
What tends to go wrong
Across 1,719 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2005.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,719 Volvo S80 cars.
Before you buy a 2005 Volvo S80
Based on MOT data from 1,719 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
33.1% 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. -
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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
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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
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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 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 31,096 Volvo S80 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2005 Volvo S80 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.
Half of all 2005 Volvo S80 vehicles fall between 87,559 and 135,506 miles.
2005 Volvo S80 — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 25% of 2005 Volvo S80s are still active.
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.
* 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
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Compare with another model
See how the 2005 Volvo S80 stacks up against a rival.