2012 Volvo V70 — MOT failures & pass rate
9,543 MOT tests on the 2012 Volvo V70 are in this dataset, and 82.0% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 3.7pp 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 9.9% of tests against 5.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and track rod end — position lamp alone was recorded 375 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.0% versus 8.0%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 948 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.9% | 558 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.3% | 507 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.1% | 387 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.2% | 308 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 241 |
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 | 375 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 359 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 312 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 281 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 268 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 233 |
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 | 26.5% | 2,526 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.4% | 2,038 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.5% | 1,864 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 877 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.2% | 783 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.8% | 457 |
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 | 88 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 688 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,905 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,633 | 17.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,016 | 19.1% |
| 150k+ | 2,213 | 22.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,176 | 18.1% |
| Petrol | 367 | 15.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,938 | 17.0% |
| 2022 | 1,892 | 16.5% |
| 2023 | 1,912 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 1,927 | 20.1% |
| 2025 | 1,874 | 18.9% |
What to check before buying a 2012 V70
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.9% 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 (5.3% 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 2012 Volvo V70s pass their MOT?
82.0% of the 9,543 2012 Volvo V70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Volvo V70?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.9% of tests, followed by tyres (5.9%).
Does the 2012 V70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 22.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,543 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.