2005 · 19 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2005 Volvo XC70 MOT pass rate and common faults

1,120 MOT tests in 2024. 56.8% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

100About average
Passed first time56.8%
Failed or needed repairs43.2%
Typical mileage at test162,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,120 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect7.2%
  2. Position lamp: not working5.6%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.1%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.8%
  5. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.6%
  6. Anti-lock braking system: warning lamp indicates an ABS fault3.2%
  7. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.2%
  8. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.1%
    48 marked dangerous
  9. Headlamp: lens seriously defective3.0%
  10. Rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value2.9%
    38 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics36.4%
  2. Brakes26.2%
  3. Suspension23.1%
  4. Steering7.4%
  5. Tyres7.0%
  6. Body & chassis6.8%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.8%
  8. Emissions & leaks2.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn20.9%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.1%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.7%
  4. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened11.3%
  5. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine9.7%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2004 XC70All XC70 years2006 XC70 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2005 Volvo XC70?

In 2024, 56.8% of 2005 Volvo XC70 cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,120 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 Volvo XC70?

The most common failure reasons were headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect; position lamp: not working; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2005 Volvo XC70 reliable at MOT time?

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