2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Volvo XC70 MOT pass rate and common faults

1,262 MOT tests in 2024. 70.2% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

109Well above average
Passed first time70.2%
Failed or needed repairs29.8%
Typical mileage at test112,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,262 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.0%
  2. Position lamp: not working3.5%
  3. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.1%
  4. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.7%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.3%
    32 marked dangerous
  6. Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.8%
  7. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.3%
  8. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.3%
  9. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics12.6%
  2. Suspension11.0%
  3. Steering5.7%
  4. Brakes5.1%
  5. Tyres4.4%
  6. Body & chassis3.6%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.9%
  8. Emissions & leaks0.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.2%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.5%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.0%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure6.3%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.5%

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: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Volvo XC70?

In 2024, 70.2% of 2012 Volvo XC70 cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,262 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Volvo XC70?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; position lamp: not working; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2012 Volvo XC70 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 109, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).