15,775 tests in 2025
Volvo Xc70 reliability and MOT pass rate
74.2% passed first time. The 25.8% fail rate is 3.2 points worse than the all-car average, on a median example 14 years old with 127,050 miles.
Pass rate
74.2%
22.6% of all cars failed; 25.8% of these did.
Fixed on the day
5%
Passed after a defect was put right during the visit.
Median at test
127,050 mi
14 years old.
Fail rate by age
| Age at test | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 0 | — |
| 6-9 years | 955 | 18.2% |
| 10-13 years | 5,844 | 20.3% |
| 14+ years | 8,976 | 30.1% |
What the Xc70 fails on
Share of failed tests with at least one fail item in each DVSA inspection section. A test can fail in several sections at once.
- Suspension71 dangerous44.9%
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment8 dangerous35.3%
- Brakes590 dangerous28%
- Tyres834 dangerous20.3%
- Steering23 dangerous17%
- Body, chassis, structure15 dangerous12.4%
- Visibility10.7%
- Noise, emissions and leaks2 dangerous3.9%
Is the Xc70 getting worse?
The fail rate rose 1.7 points to 25.8% from 2022 to 2025 while the median one tested aged 2 years. Ageing alone would predict about 3.7 points, so it is holding up better than the fleet average for its age.
| Year | Tests | Median age | Fail rate | All cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 18,681 | 12 | 24.1% | 22.5% | |
| 2023 | 18,076 | 12 | 25.9% | 22.8% | |
| 2024 | 15,780 | 13 | 26.1% | 23.2% | |
| 2025 | 15,770 | 14 | 25.8% | 22.6% |
Fail rate is first attempts at class 4 tests. Median age is the age of a typical Xc70 at its test that year, and it is the number to watch: across the whole fleet each extra year of age adds roughly 1.9 points to the fail rate, so a model whose age and fail rate rise together is simply getting older.
The exact defects that fail it
Every failure item DVSA recorded against a Xc70 in 2025, counted by how many tests each one appeared on.
- 1Coil spring: fractured or broken656 tests
- 2Position lamp: not working475 tests
- 3Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play371 tests
- 4Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn369 tests
- 5Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick336 tests
- 6Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect303 tests
- 7Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn292 tests
- 8Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt269 tests
What wears out first
Advisories are the tester flagging wear that is still legal. A typical Xc70 collects 2.92 of them per test, and these are the ones that come up most. Treat it as the running-repairs list for the next year or two.
- 1Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2,671 tests
- 2Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1,832 tests
- 3Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened1,639 tests
- 4Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1,259 tests
- 5Condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure986 tests
- 6Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened928 tests
- 7Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine891 tests
- 8Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak688 tests
Questions
What is the Volvo Xc70 MOT pass rate?
74.2% of the 15,775 Volvo Xc70 first-attempt MOTs in 2025 passed. The fail rate of 25.8% compares with 22.6% across all cars. A further 5% passed after a defect was fixed during the test visit.
What does a Volvo Xc70 usually fail on?
The single most common failure is "Coil spring: fractured or broken", recorded on 656 failed tests, followed by "Position lamp: not working" and "Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play". By section, suspension appears in 44.9% of failures, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment appears in 35.3% of failures, brakes appears in 28% of failures.
Does age change the odds?
Sharply. At 3 to 5 years old the fail rate was n/a%; at 14+ years it was 30.1%. The median Volvo Xc70 tested in 2025 was 14 years old with 127,050 miles.
Is the Volvo Xc70 getting less reliable?
The fail rate rose 1.7 points to 25.8% from 2022 to 2025 while the median one tested aged 2 years. Ageing alone would predict about 3.7 points, so it is holding up better than the fleet average for its age.
First-attempt class 4 tests, 2025, from DVSA’s anonymised MOT data (OGL v3, retrieved 2026-09-12). DVSA records newer cars trim by trim; this page adds every Xc70 trim together. Year-on-year figures come from the same DVSA extracts for 2026 and earlier years. Full method on the pass rates hub.
DVSA has published 38 safety recalls naming the Volvo Xc70: Volvo Xc70 recalls.
Other Volvo models
Checking a particular Xc70?
The odds above are the model. The car in front of you has its own record: every test, every advisory, the mileage at each one.
Due a test? Find an approved MOT station near you.