2004 Volvo XC70 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,475 MOT tests, the 2004 Volvo XC70 recorded a 70.6% pass rate. That is 1.4 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests against 14.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 638 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 30.6% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.6% fail against 29.9% for diesel, a 4.3-point gap across 5,475 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 42.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.8% in 2021 to 26.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 1,059 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.9% | 815 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.3% | 730 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.6% | 307 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 266 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 236 |
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 | 638 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 549 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 370 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 334 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 317 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 285 |
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 | 42.8% | 2,342 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.6% | 1,348 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.7% | 1,297 |
| 4 | Other defects | 18.7% | 1,024 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 995 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.2% | 777 |
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 | 38 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 293 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 638 | 28.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,224 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 3,266 | 30.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,773 | 29.9% |
| Petrol | 702 | 25.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,370 | 30.8% |
| 2022 | 1,237 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 1,094 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 970 | 30.7% |
| 2025 | 804 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 2004 XC70
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.9% 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.
- Brakes (13.3% 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.
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 2004 Volvo XC70s pass their MOT?
70.6% of the 5,475 2004 Volvo XC70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Volvo XC70?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests, followed by suspension (14.9%).
Does the 2004 XC70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.7% in the 30-60k band to 30.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,475 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.