2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Volvo V70 MOT pass rate and common faults

1,517 MOT tests in 2024. 68.7% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

107Above average
Passed first time68.7%
Failed or needed repairs31.3%
Typical mileage at test119,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,517 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working5.2%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.8%
    74 marked dangerous
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.6%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.5%
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.3%
    61 marked dangerous
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
    37 marked dangerous
  7. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.8%
  8. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play1.8%
  9. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.5%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics17.0%
  2. Suspension9.4%
  3. Tyres8.8%
  4. Brakes8.6%
  5. Steering4.2%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.7%
  7. Emissions & leaks2.3%
  8. Body & chassis1.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.0%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick10.3%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.1%
  4. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened7.7%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn6.0%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2011 V70All V70 years2013 V70 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Volvo V70?

In 2024, 68.7% of 2012 Volvo V70 cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,517 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Volvo V70?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2012 Volvo V70 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 107, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).