Volvo V70
From 62,491 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer V70s fare better: 2016 models pass at 86.7% vs 67.4% for 1997.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a lamp missing and inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 3,373 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 | 3,373 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 2,157 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,999 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 1,415 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 1,273 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 1,227 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 1,215 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,097 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 1,080 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 976 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 51% of V70 failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 6.9% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £102.
Fuel type matters
Diesel versions pass at 73.9% while Petrol versions pass at 68.3%, a 6 percentage point gap.
Volvo V70 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 3,270 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 182 newly registered, a net loss of 3,088. At this rate, roughly 14.5 years until none remain. Now at 47.1% of its peak (94,871 in 2010 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 35,354 | 9,320 | +49 | -715 | -666 |
| 2025 Q2 | 36,129 | 9,211 | +37 | -720 | -683 |
| 2025 Q1 | 36,808 | 9,215 | +50 | -919 | -869 |
| 2024 Q4 | 37,752 | 9,140 | +46 | -916 | -870 |
| 2024 Q3 | 38,583 | 9,179 | +38 | -866 | -828 |
| 2024 Q2 | 39,479 | 9,111 | +23 | -819 | -796 |
| 2024 Q1 | 40,265 | 9,121 | +38 | -807 | -769 |
| 2023 Q4 | 41,208 | 8,947 | +43 | -822 | -779 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| V70 Se Lux D5 Auto | Diesel | 2,063 | 11% |
| V70 Se D5 Auto | Diesel | 1,950 | 10% |
| V70 Se (170 Bhp) Auto | Petrol | 1,549 | 8% |
| V70 Se D | Diesel | 1,374 | 7% |
| V70 D5 Se | Diesel | 1,243 | 7% |
| V70 D5 Se Auto | Diesel | 1,201 | 6% |
| V70 Se D Auto | Diesel | 1,109 | 6% |
| V70 Se Lux D4 Auto | Diesel | 1,067 | 6% |
| V70 | Petrol | 947 | 5% |
| V70 Se Auto | Petrol | 896 | 5% |
| V70 Se Nav D4 Auto | Diesel | 669 | 4% |
| V70 D5 S | Diesel | 634 | 3% |
| V70 Se D3 Auto | Diesel | 620 | 3% |
| V70 Se Lux D3 Auto | Diesel | 608 | 3% |
| V70 Se Lux D5 | Diesel | 584 | 3% |
| V70 D5 Se E4 | Diesel | 564 | 3% |
| V70 R-Design Se D | Diesel | 489 | 3% |
| V70 Auto | Petrol | 482 | 3% |
| V70 Se D3 | Diesel | 406 | 2% |
| V70 R | Petrol | 392 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 86.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2015 | 82.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2014 | 82.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2013 | 79.5% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
16 earlier years
| 2012 | 76.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2011 | 77.8% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2010 | 75.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2009 | 71.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2008 | 73.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2007 | 71.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2006 | 69.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2005 | 68.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 65.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2003 | 66% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2002 | 64.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2001 | 65.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2000 | 66.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1999 | 69.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1998 | 68.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, warning device shows system malfunction |
| 1997 | 67.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all V70s tested had between 127,034 and 193,387 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 158,579 median miles, the V70 has 0.018 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Volvo models
| Volvo Xc60 | 82.7% |
| Volvo V40 | 79% |
| Volvo Xc90 | 78% |
| Volvo Xc40 | 91.2% |
| Volvo V50 | 67.4% |
Common questions
What is the Volvo V70 MOT pass rate?
The Volvo V70 has a 72% MOT pass rate based on 62,491 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volvo V70?
The most common MOT failure on the Volvo V70 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 3,373 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Volvo V70s are on UK roads?
There are 35,354 Volvo V70s currently licensed on UK roads, with 9,320 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volvo V70 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volvo V70 is 158,579 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 127,034 and 193,387 miles.
Buying a used V70?
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 72% pass rate and an average repair bill of £102 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.