2003 Volvo S60 MOT pass rate: 66.8% (2,773 tests)
Is the 2003 S60 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2003-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 65.0% +0.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 68.5% +3.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 67.2% +1.1 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2003 S60
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 916 | 29.2% |
| 2 | Brakes | 761 | 24.2% |
| 3 | Suspension | 519 | 16.5% |
| 4 | Tyres | 297 | 9.5% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 179 | 5.7% |
| 6 | Steering | 164 | 5.2% |
All S60 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,974 | 69.0% | +3.3 pts | 125,838 |
| 2003 (this page) | 2,773 | 66.8% | +1.7 pts | 128,891 |
| 2004 | 3,267 | 66.8% | +2.5 pts | 135,456 |
| 2005 | 3,820 | 68.5% | +4.0 pts | 131,696 |
| 2006 | 2,947 | 68.8% | +4.4 pts | 124,824 |
| 2007 | 1,777 | 67.6% | +2.5 pts | 125,090 |
| 2010 | 1,892 | 77.9% | +10.5 pts | 115,030 |
| 2011 | 5,398 | 76.1% | +7.0 pts | 113,055 |
| 2012 | 5,198 | 73.4% | +2.1 pts | 109,504 |
| 2013 | 4,214 | 78.2% | +4.9 pts | 105,946 |
| 2014 | 4,146 | 80.4% | +4.5 pts | 102,309 |
| 2015 | 3,685 | 80.4% | +1.7 pts | 90,336 |
| 2016 | 3,486 | 82.4% | +1.1 pts | 79,574 |
| 2017 | 3,193 | 83.7% | -0.3 pts | 63,665 |
| 2018 | 2,589 | 85.5% | -0.8 pts | 48,340 |
| 2019 | 1,695 | 89.6% | +1.2 pts | 34,910 |
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2003 Volvo S60 reliable?
2003-registered examples passed 66.8% of their MOT tests (2,773 tests, 2023–2025), +1.7 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 23 years old with a median 128,891 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2003 S60?
The median tested example shows 128,891 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2003 S60?
In this cohort petrols pass 69.0% of tests against 64.0% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.