Volvo Xc70
From 27,649 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Xc70s fare better: 2016 models pass at 81.1% vs 68.5% for 2003.
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 and a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 1,192 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 | 1,192 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 660 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 649 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 550 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 496 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 473 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 396 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 394 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 388 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 371 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 52.5% of Xc70 failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 11.7% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £118.
Volvo Xc70 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 570 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 6 newly registered, a net loss of 564. At this rate, roughly 29.7 years until none remain. Now at 81.8% of its peak (20,444 in 2016 Q2).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 15,292 | 1,433 | +3 | -152 | -149 |
| 2025 Q2 | 15,457 | 1,417 | +0 | -142 | -142 |
| 2025 Q1 | 15,608 | 1,408 | +2 | -158 | -156 |
| 2024 Q4 | 15,849 | 1,323 | +1 | -118 | -117 |
| 2024 Q3 | 16,010 | 1,279 | +1 | -163 | -162 |
| 2024 Q2 | 16,231 | 1,220 | +0 | -164 | -164 |
| 2024 Q1 | 16,436 | 1,179 | +0 | -164 | -164 |
| 2023 Q4 | 16,628 | 1,151 | +0 | -62 | -62 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xc70 Se Lux D5 Awd Auto | Diesel | 3,213 | 27% |
| Xc70 Se Lux Awd D5 Auto | Diesel | 1,013 | 9% |
| Xc70 Se Lux Nav D5 Awd Auto | Diesel | 1,012 | 9% |
| Xc70 Se D5 Auto | Diesel | 832 | 7% |
| Xc70 Se Lux D4 Awd Auto | Diesel | 735 | 6% |
| Xc70 D5 Se Awd Geartronic | Diesel | 632 | 5% |
| Xc70 Se Lux D5 A | Diesel | 549 | 5% |
| Xc70 Se D5 A | Diesel | 532 | 4% |
| Xc70 Se Nav D5 Awd Auto | Diesel | 433 | 4% |
| Xc70 Se Awd D5 Auto | Diesel | 417 | 4% |
| Xc70 D5 Se Lux Awd S-A | Diesel | 326 | 3% |
| Xc70 Se D5 Awd Auto | Diesel | 313 | 3% |
| Xc70 Se Lux D5 Awd | Diesel | 309 | 3% |
| Xc70 Se Lux D5 Auto | Diesel | 265 | 2% |
| Xc70 D Se E4 | Diesel | 239 | 2% |
| Xc70 Se Sport D5 A | Diesel | 225 | 2% |
| Xc70 Se D5 Awd | Diesel | 213 | 2% |
| Xc70 D Se | Diesel | 209 | 2% |
| Xc70 Se Lux Awd D5 | Diesel | 190 | 2% |
| Xc70 Se Lux D3 Auto | Diesel | 172 | 1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 81.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 83.2% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2014 | 82.5% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2013 | 79.8% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
11 earlier years
| 2012 | 77.5% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2011 | 77.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2010 | 75.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2009 | 77.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2008 | 76.4% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 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 | 71.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2005 | 68% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 66.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2003 | 68.5% | 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 | 70.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Xc70s tested had between 67,141 and 124,591 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 103,941 median miles, the Xc70 has 0.023 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 Xc70 MOT pass rate?
The Volvo Xc70 has a 76.5% MOT pass rate based on 27,649 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volvo Xc70?
The most common MOT failure on the Volvo Xc70 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 1,192 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Volvo Xc70s are on UK roads?
There are 15,292 Volvo Xc70s currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,433 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volvo Xc70 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volvo Xc70 is 103,941 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 67,141 and 124,591 miles.
Buying a used Xc70?
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 76.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £118 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
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.