2010 Volvo V70 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 17,829 MOT tests, the 2010 Volvo V70 recorded an 80.8% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail 24.2% of the time, so this is 5.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.3% of tests against 6.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 847 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.4% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 16.2% fail against 19.4% for diesel, a 3.1-point gap across 17,829 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 2,021 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.2% | 1,106 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.7% | 1,018 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.0% | 708 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 688 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.2% | 575 |
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 | 847 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 826 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 504 |
| 4 | Washers | 474 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 453 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 447 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.7% | 4,935 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.6% | 4,384 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.3% | 3,623 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.4% | 2,206 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 1,980 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 1,634 |
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 | 100 | 9.0% |
| 30-60k | 717 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,403 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 4,168 | 17.4% |
| 120-150k | 4,615 | 19.2% |
| 150k+ | 5,823 | 23.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,830 | 19.4% |
| Petrol | 999 | 16.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,662 | 17.0% |
| 2022 | 3,702 | 19.3% |
| 2023 | 3,540 | 18.4% |
| 2024 | 3,519 | 20.6% |
| 2025 | 3,406 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a 2010 V70
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (5.7% 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 2010 Volvo V70s pass their MOT?
80.8% of the 17,829 2010 Volvo V70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Volvo V70?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.3% of tests, followed by tyres (6.2%).
Does the 2010 V70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.0% in the 0-30k band to 23.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,829 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.