2011 Volvo V70 — MOT failures & pass rate
12,751 MOT tests on the 2011 Volvo V70 are in this dataset, and 82.2% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 22.9% of the time, so this is 5.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.0% of all tests — 4.8 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and brake pads — position lamp alone was recorded 583 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.3% versus 9.7%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.4pp more often than petrol ones (17.9% vs 14.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 1,408 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.3% | 799 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.6% | 583 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.6% | 454 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.2% | 407 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 363 |
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 | 583 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 560 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 349 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 339 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 330 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 296 |
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% | 3,528 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.5% | 2,868 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.6% | 2,503 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.7% | 1,366 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 1,222 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 934 |
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 | 72 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 711 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,255 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 3,266 | 16.4% |
| 120-150k | 2,995 | 18.7% |
| 150k+ | 3,451 | 22.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,167 | 17.9% |
| Petrol | 584 | 14.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,600 | 16.8% |
| 2022 | 2,557 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 2,564 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 2,550 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 2,480 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a 2011 V70
On a 2011 V70, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.3% 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 (4.6% 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 2011 Volvo V70s pass their MOT?
82.2% of the 12,751 2011 Volvo V70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Volvo V70?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.0% of tests, followed by tyres (6.3%).
Does the 2011 V70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 22.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,751 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.