2015 Volvo XC70 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Volvo XC70 passed 86.4% of its 9,291 recorded MOT tests. Against large family cars of a similar age (17.1% fail rate), the 2015 XC70 comes out 3.5pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.0%) and suspension (4.4%) 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 brake pads — coil spring alone was recorded 369 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.2% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.0% | 466 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.4% | 407 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 268 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.7% | 248 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.3% | 212 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.6% | 151 |
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 | 369 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 232 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 205 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 164 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 132 |
| 6 | Wipers | 128 |
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 | 21.9% | 2,039 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.1% | 1,586 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 657 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 548 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.3% | 401 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 312 |
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 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,576 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 3,393 | 13.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,856 | 16.0% |
| 120-150k | 745 | 17.1% |
| 150k+ | 413 | 18.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,234 | 13.6% |
| Petrol | 57 | 8.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,802 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 1,838 | 11.8% |
| 2023 | 1,879 | 14.5% |
| 2024 | 1,891 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 1,881 | 14.9% |
What to check before buying a 2015 XC70
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.0% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
- Suspension (4.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2015 Volvo XC70s pass their MOT?
86.4% of the 9,291 2015 Volvo XC70 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Volvo XC70?
Tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by suspension (4.4%).
Does the 2015 XC70 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 18.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,291 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.