2006 Volvo C70 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Volvo C70 passed 71.2% of its 7,791 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 21.9% of the time, so this is 6.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.7%) and lighting & signalling (12.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, joints and rbt (sp) — coil spring alone was recorded 548 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.8% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 28.3% of the time against 28.9% for petrol.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.7% | 1,069 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 943 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.8% | 845 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.6% | 593 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 548 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 325 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 548 |
| 2 | Joints | 510 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 488 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 398 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 361 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 304 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 30.7% | 2,390 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.8% | 2,322 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.7% | 1,691 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 1,036 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 871 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.3% | 567 |
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 | 124 | 19.4% |
| 30-60k | 884 | 21.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,306 | 27.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,550 | 30.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,404 | 31.5% |
| 150k+ | 522 | 31.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,745 | 28.9% |
| Diesel | 1,046 | 28.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,902 | 28.2% |
| 2022 | 1,751 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 1,594 | 28.5% |
| 2024 | 1,399 | 30.2% |
| 2025 | 1,145 | 29.0% |
What to check before buying a 2006 C70
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.8% 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 2006 Volvo C70s pass their MOT?
71.2% of the 7,791 2006 Volvo C70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Volvo C70?
Suspension, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.1%).
Does the 2006 C70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 0-30k band to 31.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,791 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.