Volvo C70
From 14,391 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened and a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 634 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 634 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 594 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 519 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 399 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 374 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 346 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 294 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 270 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 267 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 245 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 35% of C70 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 43.2% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £142.
Volvo C70 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 815 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 815. At this rate, roughly 10.9 years until none remain. Now at 47.6% of its peak (18,620 in 2011 Q2).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 6,086 | 2,773 | +0 | -172 | -172 |
| 2025 Q2 | 6,314 | 2,717 | +0 | -154 | -154 |
| 2025 Q1 | 6,231 | 2,954 | +0 | -166 | -166 |
| 2024 Q4 | 6,403 | 2,948 | +0 | -323 | -323 |
| 2024 Q3 | 6,923 | 2,751 | +0 | -186 | -186 |
| 2024 Q2 | 7,175 | 2,685 | +0 | -105 | -105 |
| 2024 Q1 | 7,166 | 2,799 | +0 | -314 | -314 |
| 2023 Q4 | 7,432 | 2,847 | +0 | -180 | -180 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| C70 Se D5 A | Diesel | 336 | 9% |
| C70 Se Auto | Petrol | 314 | 8% |
| C70 Se Lux D5 A | Diesel | 247 | 6% |
| C70 T | Gas | 245 | 6% |
| C70 Se | Petrol | 243 | 6% |
| C70 T Gt Auto | Petrol | 243 | 6% |
| C70 Se Lux D3 Auto | Diesel | 228 | 6% |
| C70 T Auto | Gas | 227 | 6% |
| C70 Sport | Petrol | 193 | 5% |
| C70 Se Lux Solstice D3 Auto | Diesel | 182 | 5% |
| C70 Se Lux D4 Auto | Diesel | 176 | 5% |
| C70 S D | Diesel | 171 | 4% |
| C70 Se Lux T5 Auto | Petrol | 170 | 4% |
| C70 Se Td | Diesel | 142 | 4% |
| C70 Se Lux D3 | Diesel | 133 | 3% |
| C70 Se D3 | Diesel | 123 | 3% |
| C70 T Gt | Petrol | 123 | 3% |
| C70 Se Lux Auto | Petrol | 121 | 3% |
| C70 Se Lux T5 | Petrol | 105 | 3% |
| C70 20V Lpt | Petrol | 100 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 73.9% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2012 | 76.3% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2011 | 69.5% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2010 | 67.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
12 earlier years
| 2009 | 69.2% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2008 | 72.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2007 | 69.6% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2006 | 68.7% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2005 | 68.9% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2004 | 75.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2003 | 75.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2002 | 73.9% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2001 | 73% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective |
| 2000 | 72.9% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1999 | 75.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud |
| 1998 | 74.5% | a flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
Typical mileage
Half of all C70s tested had between 79,236 and 120,375 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 96,676 median miles, the C70 has 0.03 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Volvo models
| Volvo Xc60 | 82.7% |
| Volvo V40 | 79% |
| Volvo Xc90 | 78% |
| Volvo Xc40 | 91.2% |
| Volvo V70 | 72% |
Common questions
What is the Volvo C70 MOT pass rate?
The Volvo C70 has a 71.1% MOT pass rate based on 14,391 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volvo C70?
The most common MOT failure on the Volvo C70 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 634 failures. Other common issues include a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened.
How many Volvo C70s are on UK roads?
There are 6,086 Volvo C70s currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,773 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volvo C70 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volvo C70 is 96,676 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 79,236 and 120,375 miles.
Buying a used C70?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 71.1% pass rate and an average repair bill of £142 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 35% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.