Volvo S70 MOT pass rate & common failures
3,134 MOT tests on the Volvo S70 (1996–2015) give it a 76.8% pass rate. That is 2.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.5%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.6%) and brakes (11.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, anti-lock braking system and joints — headlamp aim alone was recorded 199 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 24.6% versus 14.4%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every S70 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 1,243 | 77.0% | 23.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 1,245 | 76.5% | 23.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 587 | 75.8% | 24.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 395 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.5% | 361 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.5% | 234 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 197 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 139 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.0% | 126 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.9% | 121 |
| 8 | Visibility | 3.7% | 115 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 199 |
| 2 | Anti-lock braking system | 143 |
| 3 | Joints | 134 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 128 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 123 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 112 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 107 |
| 8 | Ball joint | 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 | Suspension | 30.2% | 947 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.6% | 833 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.8% | 713 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.5% | 487 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 477 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.6% | 458 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 104 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 466 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 740 | 23.4% |
| 120-150k | 730 | 25.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,063 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,971 | 23.3% |
| Diesel | 163 | 22.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 821 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 719 | 24.9% |
| 2023 | 562 | 21.7% |
| 2024 | 534 | 23.0% |
| 2025 | 498 | 23.7% |
What to check before buying a Volvo S70
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.5% 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.
- Suspension (7.5% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volvo S70?
76.8% of the 3,134 Volvo S70 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 23.2% fail rate, across model years 1996–2015.
What does the Volvo S70 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests, then brakes (11.5%).
How much does mileage affect S70 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 14.4% for cars in the 30-60k band and 24.6% for 150k+, a 10.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,134 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.