2012 Volvo C70 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,761 MOT tests, the 2012 Volvo C70 recorded a 79.0% pass rate. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (16.3% fail rate), the 2012 C70 comes out 4.6pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.6%) and lighting & signalling (8.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, joints and coil spring — position lamp alone was recorded 94 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.7% once past 150k — 3.6× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.6% | 152 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 143 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.3% | 129 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 90 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.0% | 70 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.3% | 40 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 94 |
| 2 | Joints | 93 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 89 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 49 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 38 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 30 |
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 | 28.4% | 501 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.9% | 421 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.4% | 306 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 6.8% | 119 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.0% | 106 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 104 |
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 | 102 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 597 | 16.6% |
| 60-90k | 531 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 338 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 133 | 23.3% |
| 150k+ | 60 | 31.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,711 | 21.2% |
| Petrol | 50 | 14.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 347 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 349 | 20.3% |
| 2023 | 357 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 355 | 21.7% |
| 2025 | 353 | 22.9% |
What to check before buying a 2012 C70
On a 2012 C70, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.6% 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 (8.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2012 Volvo C70s pass their MOT?
79.0% of the 1,761 2012 Volvo C70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Volvo C70?
Suspension, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.1%).
Does the 2012 C70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 31.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,761 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.