2003 Volvo XC70 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Volvo XC70 passed 70.3% of its 3,347 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail 28.1% of the time, so this is 1.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.6% of all tests — 4.4 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 363 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 31.3% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.7pp more often than petrol ones (30.1% vs 28.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 43.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 29.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 657 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.3% | 511 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.1% | 504 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.8% | 195 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 170 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.8% | 162 |
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 | 363 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 327 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 261 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 198 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 178 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 125 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 43.0% | 1,439 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.5% | 955 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.8% | 864 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.8% | 662 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.1% | 640 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 557 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 32 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 156 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 427 | 26.0% |
| 120-150k | 725 | 28.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,961 | 31.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,681 | 30.1% |
| Petrol | 666 | 28.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 807 | 29.2% |
| 2022 | 777 | 30.1% |
| 2023 | 683 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 570 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 510 | 30.8% |
What to check before buying a 2003 XC70
On a 2003 XC70, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (15.3% 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.
- Suspension (15.1% 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 2003 Volvo XC70s pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 3,347 2003 Volvo XC70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Volvo XC70?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.6% of tests, followed by brakes (15.3%).
Does the 2003 XC70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 30-60k band to 31.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,347 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.