1999 Volvo S70 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 587 MOT tests, the 1999 Volvo S70 recorded a 75.8% pass rate. That is 2.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.1%) and brakes (11.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 45 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 26.3% versus 17.5%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 24.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 77 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 65 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.3% | 43 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.2% | 42 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.3% | 31 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 26 |
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 | 45 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 30 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 25 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 25 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 24 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 23 |
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 | 34.2% | 201 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.8% | 163 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.7% | 139 |
| 4 | Other defects | 21.3% | 125 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 103 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.3% | 72 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 103 | 17.5% |
| 90-120k | 135 | 25.9% |
| 120-150k | 129 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 190 | 26.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 542 | 24.0% |
| Diesel | 45 | 26.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 157 | 24.2% |
| 2022 | 145 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 104 | 22.1% |
| 2024 | 87 | 18.4% |
| 2025 | 94 | 27.7% |
What to check before buying a 1999 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 (11.1% 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 (7.3% 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 1999 Volvo S70s pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 587 1999 Volvo S70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Volvo S70?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by brakes (11.1%).
Does the 1999 S70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.5% in the 60-90k band to 26.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 587 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.