2013 Volvo V70 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Volvo V70 passed 82.3% of its 10,296 recorded MOT tests. Against large family cars of a similar age (20.3% fail rate), the 2013 V70 comes out 2.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.9%) and tyres (6.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, tread depth and headlamp aim — track rod end alone was recorded 318 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.8% versus 7.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 709 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.6% | 682 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.7% | 385 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.3% | 341 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.1% | 320 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 261 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 318 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 288 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 272 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 267 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 208 |
| 6 | Wipers | 158 |
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 | 27.2% | 2,798 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.3% | 1,884 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.2% | 1,569 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.5% | 878 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 613 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 505 |
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 | 162 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,205 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,584 | 16.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,725 | 17.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,891 | 20.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,726 | 21.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,184 | 17.8% |
| Petrol | 112 | 13.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,006 | 15.2% |
| 2022 | 2,026 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 2,049 | 16.9% |
| 2024 | 2,105 | 19.9% |
| 2025 | 2,110 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2013 V70
On a 2013 V70, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.6% 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.
- Brakes (3.7% 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.
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 2013 Volvo V70s pass their MOT?
82.3% of the 10,296 2013 Volvo V70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volvo V70?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by tyres (6.6%).
Does the 2013 V70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 21.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,296 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.