2016 Volvo V70 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Volvo V70 passed 88.3% of its 4,280 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.7 percentage points better than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.2%) and lighting & signalling (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 116 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 11.7% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.2% | 264 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 139 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.6% | 111 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.1% | 89 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 59 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.8% | 36 |
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 | 116 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 107 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 85 |
| 4 | Wipers | 78 |
| 5 | Joints | 38 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 36 |
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% | 1,057 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.9% | 766 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.9% | 252 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.6% | 195 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 165 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 123 |
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 | 304 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,554 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,362 | 13.3% |
| 90-120k | 656 | 14.6% |
| 120-150k | 258 | 19.4% |
| 150k+ | 145 | 11.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,199 | 11.6% |
| Petrol | 81 | 16.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 872 | 9.1% |
| 2022 | 833 | 10.4% |
| 2023 | 859 | 12.1% |
| 2024 | 846 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 870 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 V70
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.2% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.6% 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 2016 Volvo V70s pass their MOT?
88.3% of the 4,280 2016 Volvo V70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Volvo V70?
Tyres, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.3%).
Does the 2016 V70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 11.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,280 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.