2002 Volvo V70 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 18,166 MOT tests, the 2002 Volvo V70 recorded a 71.4% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 28.1%, so the 2002 V70 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.7% of all tests — 7.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 1,914 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2002 V70 fails 33.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 30.2% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.5 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 28.4% of the time against 28.7% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 41.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.7% | 3,765 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.6% | 2,474 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.9% | 1,977 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 1,462 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.5% | 1,176 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 860 |
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 | 1,914 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,607 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 1,217 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 996 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 901 |
| 6 | Joints | 756 |
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 | 41.3% | 7,493 |
| 2 | Other defects | 28.6% | 5,203 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.4% | 5,165 |
| 4 | Tyres | 27.8% | 5,050 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 3,377 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 2,722 |
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 | 169 | 33.7% |
| 30-60k | 228 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,223 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,847 | 24.8% |
| 120-150k | 3,952 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 9,508 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,050 | 28.7% |
| Diesel | 6,087 | 28.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,892 | 28.6% |
| 2022 | 4,137 | 28.5% |
| 2023 | 3,582 | 28.2% |
| 2024 | 3,034 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 2,521 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a 2002 V70
On a 2002 V70, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.6% 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 (10.9% 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 2002 Volvo V70s pass their MOT?
71.4% of the 18,166 2002 Volvo V70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Volvo V70?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.7% of tests, followed by brakes (13.6%).
Does the 2002 V70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 33.7% in the 0-30k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,166 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.