2013 Volvo XC70 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Volvo XC70 passed 83.2% of its 9,432 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail 20.3% of the time, so this is 3.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.6%) and lighting & signalling (5.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, track rod end and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 474 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.7% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.6% | 621 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 561 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.7% | 441 |
| 4 | Steering | 3.5% | 326 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.9% | 273 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 233 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 474 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 346 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 266 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 175 |
| 5 | Wipers | 156 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 143 |
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 | 23.3% | 2,194 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.4% | 1,738 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.1% | 1,050 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.8% | 640 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 517 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.4% | 419 |
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 | 63 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,226 | 12.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,834 | 16.0% |
| 90-120k | 2,680 | 16.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,575 | 19.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,050 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,313 | 16.9% |
| Petrol | 119 | 8.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,882 | 15.6% |
| 2022 | 1,916 | 16.8% |
| 2023 | 1,877 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 1,893 | 17.5% |
| 2025 | 1,864 | 17.0% |
What to check before buying a 2013 XC70
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 6.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (6.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.7% 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.
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 2013 Volvo XC70s pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 9,432 2013 Volvo XC70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volvo XC70?
Suspension, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.9%).
Does the 2013 XC70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,432 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.