2005 Volvo C70 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Volvo C70 passed 74.8% of its 2,905 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 22.2% of the time, so this is 3.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.6%) and suspension (10.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, coil spring and headlamp aim — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 146 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.3% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 337 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.4% | 301 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.5% | 246 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.4% | 215 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.3% | 124 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 121 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 146 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 134 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 132 |
| 4 | Wipers | 130 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 107 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 98 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 28.6% | 832 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.3% | 794 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.3% | 764 |
| 4 | Other defects | 20.3% | 590 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 418 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 259 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 99 | 14.1% |
| 30-60k | 417 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 988 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 973 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 321 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 106 | 28.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 713 | 24.4% |
| 2022 | 661 | 25.6% |
| 2023 | 581 | 23.4% |
| 2024 | 517 | 27.7% |
| 2025 | 433 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2005 C70
On a 2005 C70, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (8.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2005 Volvo C70s pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 2,905 2005 Volvo C70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Volvo C70?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by suspension (10.4%).
Does the 2005 C70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.1% in the 0-30k band to 28.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,905 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.