2005 Volvo XC70 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Volvo XC70 passed 72.5% of its 8,812 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 27.8%, so the 2005 XC70 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.4% of all tests — 5.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,123 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.6% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 29.4% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.3pp more often than petrol ones (27.8% vs 25.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 42.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 1,623 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.8% | 1,124 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.4% | 1,090 |
| 4 | Steering | 4.9% | 435 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.4% | 390 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 342 |
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 | 1,123 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 760 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 721 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 501 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 412 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 402 |
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 | 42.6% | 3,758 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.3% | 2,230 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 23.6% | 2,077 |
| 4 | Brakes | 22.8% | 2,006 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.2% | 1,427 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.2% | 897 |
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 | 119 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 508 | 21.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,086 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,924 | 26.9% |
| 150k+ | 5,141 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,023 | 27.8% |
| Petrol | 789 | 25.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,049 | 27.6% |
| 2022 | 1,926 | 26.7% |
| 2023 | 1,795 | 27.7% |
| 2024 | 1,616 | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 1,426 | 27.7% |
What to check before buying a 2005 XC70
On a 2005 XC70, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.8% 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 (12.4% 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 2005 Volvo XC70s pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 8,812 2005 Volvo XC70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Volvo XC70?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests, followed by brakes (12.8%).
Does the 2005 XC70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.6% in the 30-60k band to 29.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,812 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.