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Volvo XC70 reliability

A · Excellent

MOT pass rates and common problems from 151,770 MOT tests of cars first registered 2003–2016.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
70.3%pass first time
+8.3 ptsvs typical car
Beats 82%of cars
151,770MOT tests

Verdict

The Volvo XC70 passes its MOT first time on 70.3% of tests, 8.3 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (62.0%). That puts it ahead of 82% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2008 XC70 does best (beats 94% of cars) and the 2003 worst (beats 51%).

Better than average on lights & electrics, suspension, brakes.

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

50%60%70%80%90%3456789101112131415161718192085%83%80%76%73%67%62%60%56%
Volvo XC70Typical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2003
Beats 51%
2004
Beats 60%
2005
Beats 69%
2006
Beats 69%
2007
Beats 76%
2008
Beats 94%
2009
Beats 94%
2010
Beats 92%
2011
Beats 88%
2012
Beats 81%
2013
Beats 89%
2014
Beats 92%
2015
Beats 87%
2016
Beats 72%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.4 Diesel2003–2016147,36770.3%Beats 82%A
2.0 Diesel2011–20153,31373.6%Beats 78%B
2.5 Petrol2005–20051,09063.7%Beats 82%A

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 0.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 4.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 9.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 14.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 13.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 17.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 5.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 7.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 10.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 13.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 17.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+4.4 ptsTyres: 5.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+2.2 ptsBrakes: 7.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 10.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+2.7 ptsSuspension: 9.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 14.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+4.5 ptsExhaust: 0.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 4.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+3.8 ptsSuspension: 9.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 14.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 7.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 10.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 5.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 13.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 17.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 0.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 4.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 13.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 17.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+4.4 ptsTyres: 5.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+2.2 ptsBrakes: 7.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 10.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+2.7 ptsSuspension: 9.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 14.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+4.5 ptsExhaust: 0.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 4.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+3.8 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Tyres: 5.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics
13.1% vs 17.5%
Suspension
9.5% vs 14.1%
Brakes
7.6% vs 10.3%
Tyres
5.7% vs 7.9%
Steering
3.8% vs 3.1%
Visibility
3.4% vs 6.0%
Body & structure
2.3% vs 5.5%
Emissions & leaks
0.8% vs 4.7%
Seat belts & airbags
0.7% vs 1.8%
Wheels
0.2% vs 0.6%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Sidelights
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Coil springs
    Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
  • Track rod ends
    Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres.
  • Headlight bulbs & units
    Check dipped and main beam on both sides.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

50%60%70%80%90%100%20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k150k88%84%79%75%71%67%64%
Volvo XC70Typical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Sidelights4.4%4.8%0.9×
Headlight aim4.3%4.7%0.9×
Tyre damage & cracking3.7%4.0%0.9×
Coil springs3.2%3.4%0.9×
Track rod ends2.8%2.2%1.3×
Headlight bulbs & units2.4%3.3%0.7×
Brake pads2.2%2.5%0.9×
Tyre tread depth1.8%3.6%0.5×
Handbrake performance1.7%2.6%0.7×
Suspension arm bushes1.6%1.9%0.9×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements43.1
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn41.5
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning37.6
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened31.5
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm21.6
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play21.2
A tyre seriously damaged20.1
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements17.7
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2016 Volvo XC701 engine80.9% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.4 Diesel7,25780.9%Beats 72%B
2015 Volvo XC702 engines82.0% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.4 Diesel12,77882.2%Beats 88%A
2.0 Diesel1,33879.7%Beats 76%B
2014 Volvo XC701 engine80.6% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.4 Diesel14,08180.6%Beats 92%A
2013 Volvo XC701 engine76.9% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.4 Diesel13,39676.9%Beats 89%A
2012 Volvo XC701 engine72.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.4 Diesel11,29472.4%Beats 81%A
2011 Volvo XC702 engines72.3% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.4 Diesel14,12672.7%Beats 89%A
2.0 Diesel1,97569.5%Beats 79%B
2010 Volvo XC701 engine71.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.4 Diesel12,00971.4%Beats 92%A
2009 Volvo XC701 engine71.5% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.4 Diesel9,03471.5%Beats 94%A
2008 Volvo XC701 engine70.5% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.4 Diesel8,70070.5%Beats 94%A
2007 Volvo XC701 engine62.2% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.4 Diesel11,54762.2%Beats 76%B
2006 Volvo XC701 engine58.9% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.4 Diesel10,61658.9%Beats 69%B
2005 Volvo XC702 engines58.3% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.4 Diesel11,56557.8%Beats 67%B
2.5 Petrol1,09063.7%Beats 82%A
2004 Volvo XC701 engine53.6% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.4 Diesel6,87253.6%Beats 60%C
2003 Volvo XC701 engine51.0% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.4 Diesel4,09251.0%Beats 51%C

FAQ

What is the Volvo XC70 MOT pass rate?

70.3% of MOT tests on the Volvo XC70 were passed first time, based on 151,770 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2003–2016. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 62.0% of the time.

Is the Volvo XC70 reliable?

On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 82% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Volvo XC70 year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2008 XC70 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 94% of cars on UK roads. The 2003 does worst: it beats 51%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Volvo XC70?

The most common failure items are sidelights, headlight aim, tyre damage & cracking.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.