Volvo

Volvo S80 (2014)

425 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86.3% first-time pass rate

2014 Volvo S80

CarHunch analysed 425 real MOT records for the 2014 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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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

Moderate sample. 425 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2014 Volvo S80 passes its first MOT at 86.3%, comfortably above the UK average of 80%, which is a genuine strength—but one in three of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, a concerning figure that deserves serious pre-purchase inspection. This is predominantly a diesel fleet (421 of 425 cars), and the diesel pass rate mirrors the overall figure at 86.2%, so fuel type isn't a differentiator here.

At a median mileage of 66,041, these ten-year-old Volvos have been driven gently relative to age, yet they're still accumulating nine advisory issues per car on average and 1.52 failures each—suggesting wear is catching up despite low miles. Before committing to one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the dangerous defect patterns flagged in the data, and budget for those advisory items as near-term maintenance.

The 2014 Volvo S80 has a decent first-time pass rate (86.3%), 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
86.3%
UK average ~80%
Around average
Dangerous (ever)
33.2%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
1.52
Over 10 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
66k
Middle half: 50k–88k
For context
Good baseline reliability. A 86.3% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 9 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 425 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 425 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 47.5%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Brake wear 32.8%
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.
Other issues 13.4%
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Oil leak, but not excessive · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2014.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 425 Volvo S80 cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2014 Volvo S80

Based on MOT data from 425 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 33.2% 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 ClickMechanic
  • 📄 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 carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (99%) 421 86.2% 1.53

Colour Breakdown

Based on 31,096 Volvo S80 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 32.2%
10,011
Blue 22.4%
6,971
Black 11.4%
3,546
Grey 10.6%
3,306
Green 9.2%
2,861
Red 7.6%
2,365
Gold 4.7%
1,475
Purple 0.8%
261
White 0.6%
193
Brown 0.2%
63
Maroon 0.1%
22
Beige 0.1%
22

Mileage Distribution

Most 2014 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.

66,041
typical
49,734
low mileage
88,464
high mileage

Half of all 2014 Volvo S80 vehicles fall between 49,734 and 88,464 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 49,734 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.
49,734–88,464 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2014 Volvo S80s sit.
Over 119,426 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2014 Volvo S80 — Still on the Road

Most 2014 Volvo S80s are still being driven.

Strong survival — 362 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 89% of the peak.

20 362 2016 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* 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

10
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.52
Avg failures per vehicle
9
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Volvo S80: All S80 years → Which year to buy? →
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016

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Compare with another model

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Watch for defects — worth knowing