Volvo S70
From 1,116 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 the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 72 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 72 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 44 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 32 |
| warning device shows system malfunction | 30 |
| lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 27 |
| parking brake inoperative on one side | 26 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 25 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 23 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 21 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 20 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 18.1% of S70 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 21.6% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £113.
Volvo S70 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 53 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 52. At this rate, roughly 15.4 years until none remain. Now at 11.1% of its peak (7,217 in 2001 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 343 | 460 | +0 | -4 | -4 |
| 2025 Q2 | 352 | 455 | +1 | -4 | -3 |
| 2025 Q1 | 347 | 463 | +0 | -17 | -17 |
| 2024 Q4 | 356 | 471 | +0 | -28 | -28 |
| 2024 Q3 | 371 | 484 | +0 | -14 | -14 |
| 2024 Q2 | 381 | 488 | +0 | -10 | -10 |
| 2024 Q1 | 398 | 481 | +0 | -17 | -17 |
| 2023 Q4 | 412 | 484 | +0 | -13 | -13 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 71.2% | warning device shows system malfunction, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1998 | 72.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1997 | 74.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all S70s tested had between 106,276 and 164,092 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 121,989 median miles, the S70 has 0.022 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 S70 MOT pass rate?
The Volvo S70 has a 73.1% MOT pass rate based on 1,116 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volvo S70?
The most common MOT failure on the Volvo S70 is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 72 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Volvo S70s are on UK roads?
There are 343 Volvo S70s currently licensed on UK roads, with 460 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volvo S70 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volvo S70 is 121,989 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 106,276 and 164,092 miles.
Buying a used S70?
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 73.1% pass rate and an average repair bill of £113 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.