2001 Volvo V70 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 12,609 MOT tests, the 2001 Volvo V70 recorded a 71.5% pass rate. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.8% of tests against 12.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 1,236 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2001 V70 fails 29.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 30.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.2 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.2% in 2021 to 27.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.8% | 2,626 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 1,601 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.7% | 1,345 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 1,138 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 740 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.6% | 709 |
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 | 1,236 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,070 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 749 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 697 |
| 5 | Joints | 665 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 592 |
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 | 37.7% | 4,751 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.4% | 3,703 |
| 3 | Other defects | 28.3% | 3,568 |
| 4 | Brakes | 28.1% | 3,539 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 2,130 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.6% | 1,971 |
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 | 44 | 29.5% |
| 30-60k | 173 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 905 | 22.0% |
| 90-120k | 2,397 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 3,158 | 28.7% |
| 150k+ | 5,852 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,146 | 28.5% |
| Diesel | 453 | 30.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,520 | 29.2% |
| 2022 | 2,887 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 2,470 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 2,059 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 1,673 | 27.0% |
What to check before buying a 2001 V70
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.7% 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 (10.7% 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 2001 Volvo V70s pass their MOT?
71.5% of the 12,609 2001 Volvo V70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Volvo V70?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.8% of tests, followed by brakes (12.7%).
Does the 2001 V70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.5% in the 0-30k band to 30.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,609 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.