2015 Volvo V70 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Volvo V70 passed 86.9% of its 11,525 recorded MOT tests. Against large family cars of a similar age (17.1% fail rate), the 2015 V70 comes out 4.0pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.1%) and lighting & signalling (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 304 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.0% in the 0-30k band and 17.3% in the 150k+ band, a 10.2-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 698 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 413 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.1% | 363 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.9% | 224 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 223 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.9% | 216 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 304 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 283 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 280 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 220 |
| 5 | Wipers | 176 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 155 |
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 | 24.7% | 2,845 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.9% | 2,064 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.5% | 750 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.3% | 608 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 474 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 371 |
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 | 528 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,255 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 3,780 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,301 | 15.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,006 | 16.5% |
| 150k+ | 655 | 17.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,468 | 13.1% |
| Petrol | 57 | 14.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,261 | 11.1% |
| 2022 | 2,304 | 12.5% |
| 2023 | 2,278 | 12.1% |
| 2024 | 2,365 | 15.2% |
| 2025 | 2,317 | 14.5% |
What to check before buying a 2015 V70
On a 2015 V70, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.1% 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 2015 Volvo V70s pass their MOT?
86.9% of the 11,525 2015 Volvo V70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Volvo V70?
Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.6%).
Does the 2015 V70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 17.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,525 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.