2007 Volvo V70 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Volvo V70 passed 75.5% of its 18,430 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail 26.9% of the time, so this is 2.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.9% of tests against 10.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,454 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.2% in the 0-30k band and 26.9% in the 150k+ band, a 13.7-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 24.4% of the time against 24.5% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 2,931 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.3% | 1,905 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.3% | 1,524 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.3% | 1,162 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 723 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.6% | 664 |
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 | 1,454 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,308 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 1,048 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 788 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 773 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 516 |
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 | 35.5% | 6,546 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.4% | 5,054 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.5% | 4,518 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 3,346 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.6% | 2,135 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.5% | 1,942 |
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 | 53 | 13.2% |
| 30-60k | 490 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,686 | 20.8% |
| 90-120k | 3,593 | 22.5% |
| 120-150k | 4,988 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 7,613 | 26.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,990 | 24.5% |
| Petrol | 3,440 | 24.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,116 | 23.3% |
| 2022 | 3,984 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 3,782 | 25.1% |
| 2024 | 3,428 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 3,120 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 2007 V70
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.3% 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 (8.3% 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 2007 Volvo V70s pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 18,430 2007 Volvo V70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Volvo V70?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.9% of tests, followed by brakes (10.3%).
Does the 2007 V70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.2% in the 0-30k band to 26.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,430 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.