1997 Volvo S70 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1997 Volvo S70 passed 77.0% of its 1,243 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.1%) and brakes (11.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rbt (sp) and anti-lock braking system — headlamp aim alone was recorded 76 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 25.2% versus 7.7%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 29.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 163 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.9% | 148 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 89 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.9% | 86 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 54 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 53 |
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 | 76 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 61 |
| 3 | Anti-lock braking system | 58 |
| 4 | Joints | 58 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 56 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 54 |
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 | 29.0% | 360 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.4% | 303 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.6% | 269 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 188 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.6% | 181 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.0% | 174 |
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 | 39 | 7.7% |
| 60-90k | 174 | 19.5% |
| 90-120k | 281 | 22.8% |
| 120-150k | 285 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 457 | 25.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,169 | 23.0% |
| Diesel | 74 | 23.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 321 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 276 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 232 | 23.7% |
| 2024 | 213 | 23.0% |
| 2025 | 201 | 22.4% |
What to check before buying a 1997 S70
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.9% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.2% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1997 Volvo S70s pass their MOT?
77.0% of the 1,243 1997 Volvo S70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Volvo S70?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by brakes (11.9%).
Does the 1997 S70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 30-60k band to 25.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,243 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.