1998 Volvo S70 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Volvo S70 passed 76.5% of its 1,245 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (25.6% fail rate), the 1998 S70 comes out 2.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.0%) and brakes (11.6%) 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 75 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1998 S70 fails 26.5% of the time in the 30-60k band and 23.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.5 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 30.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 150 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.6% | 144 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.0% | 100 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 79 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.3% | 54 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.5% | 44 |
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 | 75 |
| 2 | Anti-lock braking system | 61 |
| 3 | Joints | 58 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 44 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 44 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 44 |
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 | 30.3% | 377 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.8% | 359 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.5% | 293 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.8% | 209 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 186 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.5% | 181 |
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 | 34 | 26.5% |
| 60-90k | 177 | 19.8% |
| 90-120k | 314 | 22.3% |
| 120-150k | 306 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 397 | 23.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 319 | 22.3% |
| 2022 | 285 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 218 | 19.3% |
| 2024 | 226 | 25.2% |
| 2025 | 197 | 23.9% |
What to check before buying a 1998 S70
On a 1998 S70, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.6% 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 (8.0% 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
How many 1998 Volvo S70s pass their MOT?
76.5% of the 1,245 1998 Volvo S70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Volvo S70?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by brakes (11.6%).
Does the 1998 S70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.5% in the 30-60k band to 23.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,245 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.